Yesterday as I was coming out of some trees into a big open field, I saw three deer on my left. I startled a little as I always do when I see deer, and waited for them to bound off. But they didn't. I guess they see so many people that they aren't that scared anymore. Two were older and one was younger. The younger one stepped over the path and stopped just on the edge of it. I went around it--I could have touched it, I was so close. He was calm, but I was keeping an eye on the bigger two to make sure they didn't decide I was a threat. I went on, looking back at them a few times.
I had 12 miles scheduled yesterday. I wasn't particularly looking forward to it, and if it didn't go well I was ready to rethink my plan for the marathon in March. I was sick last week, totally failed at a 7 miler, and wasn't feeling strong. I got up and got dressed to go to the river, but I dawdled. It was cold so I decided I needed my jacket, which I had to go back and get. And my wrist band. And some chapstick. I told myself I was wasting time and it wasn't helping.
At the car by the trail, I talked myself out of wearing the jacket. It was cold, still under 30 degrees, but my mind told me I would be happier without the jacket. It was freezing for the first few miles--my toes and my lower legs felt numb, but I warmed up and had a comfortable run.
I had parked at the dog park at burns park for the first time in a while and headed up stream to the Big Dam Bridge. I crossed that (the only real hills out there!) and then went on up toward Two Rivers Bridge. When I paused for a gel and some water I started coughing a bit and got worried, but once I got back into my stride it was ok. I ran on into the pine trees and missed the warmth of the sun.
But then there were the deer. They just looked at me with moderate interest, calm and undisturbed, really. I stopped at the other side of Two Rivers Park for a drink from the water fountain, water so cold that it burned my tongue a little. Delicious! And then I turned around. The deer were still there, but some people coming in from the other direction startled them. They took off across the straw-colored field, around haystacks, the little one's bright white tail swishing rhythmically. On the far side of the clearing, I saw probably 8-10 other deer, some laying down, some grazing. I looked back over my shoulder and watched them for as long as I could.
I crossed back over the Little Maumelle River and watched white birds, their wings spread, flying low across the caramel colored water. I looked up at the sun hitting with thin cold morning pink and gold along the trees and houses high above the river. I breathed cold air and watched the other people out, looked at the cars crossing on the 430 bridge in another world from mine.
On the back side of the run, I kept my pace and still felt good. I was running on the right side of the path against the ridge. The sun hadn't touched the ground there yet, and frost blossomed thick, white, and furry on the leaves along the side of the road. I watched it, its lacy ice towers fuzzy on the vines. I dodged ice again on the temporary trail close to the dam bridge where they're building a new approach. I started to feel ready to be done, but wasn't feeling any pain (for which I'm so happy!!)
I finished 12 miles about 3/4 of a mile from the car and kept running because it was cold and I wanted to minimize the walk back. I stopped at 12.25 because it felt like a Christmassy thing to do, and I happened to be by a big, leafless tree with a dark trunk and pointed, bare branches. I thought about how different it looked a few months ago when I was last out there, and how different it felt to run in the cold--at least not longing for a reprieve from the insane heat!
It was a good morning, a good run, a day when I was grateful for the achievement and looked forward to the rest of the day--multiple blessings of family and friends, laughter and love.
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