I am not a runner. I like to walk and know the sidewalks of my neighborhood and adjacent neighborhoods inside and out. I also like to go to the gym, and feel familiar with the sidewalk from the parking lot to the front doors. I love the familiar rubber of the treadmill, the stair machine, and the elliptical trainer. They are a great substitute for pavement. I also love the TV monitors and my Ipod. They are a great substitute for nature and fresh air.
This morning I got ready to go to the gym, pulled out into the street, and felt that strange deflated thud of a flat tire as I drove the first few yards. I knew the tire was low the day before--so just a slow leak. I got it reinflated, thanks to the mobile AAA guy, and headed to the tire store for what I hoped would be a quick repair. Maybe the duration of one complimentary bag of popcorn. Instead I was faced with a 5 hour wait. One hour until Maia gets home, still in my gym clothes, I set out for a very long walk culminating with a very long hill. Sounded good to me, because I was going to miss the gym after all, and I had my Ipod and waterbottle.
The crazy thing I didn't count on, which I'm sure the runners of this town are well aware of, is that there are no consistent sidewalks. I had to zig zag back and forth over this crazy busy street to try to keep up with the disjointed sidewalks. No shoulder, just ditches and people's junky yards to walk in. And I wondered, what is the point of a sidewalk that just ends? Seriously.
5 comments:
How did you ankle hold out?
My ankle was fine then, but hurts now. Guess I just have to keep moving.
Imagine how it would be for someone in a wheelchair. That's what always pops in my head.
Sounds like quite an adventure. It needs to warm up so we can walk in the evenings up the hill. Consistent sidewalk there.
i always wondered the same thing on my runs around beaverton/aloha! what were they thinking??
Post a Comment