A Shock to the System

Over the holidays I was in Houston Texas visiting relatives and being fattened up by great food, beer, and company. This yearly tradition is one that I both love, and loathe: it is so much fun, yet after returning I invariably put on 5 to 10 pounds. Back when I was a wrestler in high school, I had trouble making weight for the whole rest of the season my senior year after the holidays. This year I decided to reduce some of my gorging by forcing myself to order soups and chilis at restaurants, and I also brought my running shoes. I decided to go for around around the perimeter of Rice University, which is about a 3 mile path in something like the shape of superman's "S" symbol. It felt good to be in shorts outside for once, as in Minnesota every run outside during the winter spells wind pants, windbreaker, gloves and a hat. About a mile into the run, the shock of the heat started getting to me a little bit. A mile and a half in, a large shadow started approaching from behind me. The sun was to my rear, so the shadow was probably 20 or 30 feet back; one of my pet peeves while running, one that no one should ever have, especially when they are not a great runner, is that I hate being passed. It doesn't matter who passes, it could be Lance Armstrong on his bike--I just don't like it. So despite being a bit weary and overheated, I picked up the pace for the last half, and staved off being passed by anyone. As I turned off and went back to the car, the thermometer read 81 degrees. 81 degrees in Januray! I had grown used to running in 10-30 degree weather over the past month, so it was definitely a shock to the system. Apparently the temperature was a record for that day. I was sweaty for at least an hour after the run, but I was glad knowing I had started my running year strong, and burned off a little of the raw pecans and crab cakes I had eaten the day before.