We all have those guilty, or really, those
not-so-guilty pleasures. Why am I calling them not-so-guilty
pleasures? Because really, in order for it to be a GUILTY pleasure, you
have to actually feel guilty at the same time that you are
thoroughly enjoying what you’re doing. And what I’m about to talk to
you about, I do not feel in the slightest bit guilty about. Maybe I
should…but I don’t.
See, my not-so-guilty pleasure is that I
completely, thoroughly, and engulfingly enjoy running through big cities
in the middle of their streets because traffic is SHUT DOWN. This is
one of my top 5 reasons that I absolutely LOVE to run
races. I love it. It makes me so happy. I don’t feel all powerful or
tyrannical or anything silly like that. Nope. I just feel happy from
the top of my head, all the way down to my toes. I love that traffic is
shut down for something as awesome as running.
I love that non-runners line the streets with their funny and
inspirational signs to cheer us on as we shut down the city so we can
run through it.
I say that maybe I “should” feel guilty because I
work in downtown Austin, TX and a few of the races I run require that
the majority of downtown Austin and the access to it be shut down for
hours. My coworkers are constantly cursing me
when this happens…whether I’m running that race or not. I actually
think it’s hilarious that they curse and blame me for it. I also like
to point out that I’m usually long since done running by the time
they’re trying to come to work and find a way that
isn’t shut down to traffic, even if I’m running the Austin Marathon,
but they won’t hear it. They still blame me. Whatever, I say. They’re
just jealous, I say, because I have a sport important enough to shut
down a city of half a million people. HA!
What do I love so much about running through the
city streets? I love being able to actually take in the city street
views and not have to look just straight ahead because I’m driving and
don’t want to have an accident. I can actually
gaze up at the beautiful architecture of the buildings as I run passed
them. I can appreciate the city more when I can connect with it on this
personal level. I feel more a part of the city as I run through its
streets. More in tune with it. If you’re
a city race runner, then you get what I’m saying.
Tell me, what’s your not-so-guilty pleasure?
I hear you! When I lived in the city that was one of the reasons I loved running at nearly midnight. Not on the road itself, but on the pavement when there was nobody trying to turn into sidestreets and nobody else on the pavement and you felt like you could just go, and go, and go forever. Like being king of the world!
ReplyDeleteI love this blog! I could actually picture it and it sounds fun!
ReplyDelete