Up and Running

Running in the dark of morning takes practice; for those of us who no longer have young eyes,  there is an extra challenge.  However, if a routine is made, the coffee is hot and ready at 4:30, and your headlamp has nice strong batteries...it is possible to get 12 good solid miles in before 7 AM in the morning.

Last night I was beyond tired.  I sat in my bed trying to make sense of a math lesson that made no sense.  Due to the fact that I was struggling to keep my eyelids from slamming shut, I decided not to set the alarm for a 4:45 AM wake up call to run with HRT and opted instead to set it for 5:25 AM so I could get a few more zzzzz and still get in a good 6.5 miles or so before 7AM.

Fast forward and you get the alarm going off at what I thought was 5:25 AM .  I was in the middle of a great dream.  It was good sleep.  I didn't want to give it up, but I won the struggle with the pillow and put my feet on the floor.  Stumbling into the kitchen, the coffee was all lit up and ready to go, but it clearly had not.  I blamed it on the fact that I didn't have my glasses on when setting the timer last night  and had to relay on the eyes of my able-eyed son as he unloaded the dishwasher.  It was all Jack's fault.  So, I made an instant cup of joe and went through my routine that goes like clock work....usually. I was out the door at what I thought was close to 6 AM.

Now, there is something you need to know.  A little before 6 AM it is still kinda dark out there but with the street lights on our street and the next street over I can usually make it without a headlamp this time of year.  All seemed pretty normal until I headed up a not so well lit street.  It was dark out there! I mean dark.   The next thing I knew a white flag went up WAY too close.  The skunk!  Usually I can spot him much further away.  I know that skunk.  He probably watches for me too.  Ok.  something was wrong.  I turned around at what I call the Triangle Park and headed home down a different street to avoid the skunk.

As I ran, it all kinda fell into place.  I wasn't ready AT ALL to get up.  The dog didn't even look my way or think of getting up even when I went in the room to get a pair of socks.  The coffee hadn't gone off.  And with no GARMIN... I was LOST!

Yes, my Garmin died.  It was a slow death.  First it mysteriously cracked a few months ago.  The end came crashing down last night when I found my charger completely smashed next to my computer.   There was no way to charge it. I could see the future, and it became reality.  This morning it was dead.  Blank.  I couldn't revive it, so I had no clue the time it said.  I usually get my glasses to push all the buttons to get my satellite.  If I had done that I would've seen the time. The reality was that  I blindly started my run in the dark without my head lamp.

Tomorrow I will be sure to have some glasses on hand so I am up and running at the later time rather the earlier time even though my Garmin isn't.