Did I tell you, faithful readers, that “running” was a theme that you might see pop up in my blog? There are more themes in my blog on various life interests, but I figure since I am a runner, I can occasionally bore you or perhaps entertain you with a post about running. A bit of foreshadowing on what happened before the run. It was a very rewarding effort to help others – hopefully rewarding to the recipients of our efforts and definitely rewarding to the three of us who put forth the effort. We spent a good part of Sunday purchasing items for the homeless and packaging them up for delivery to the nonprofit in Portland that would distribute them. These “Christmas care packages” were packed full of personal care items, socks, and some food items. For me, it may be one of the best Christmas gifts I’ve ever given, and that remark comes from someone who is not always big on Christmas. But that’s a whole different discussion. Now, to the running part of this post.
After my friends and I had delivered the care packages downtown, I came home and immediately suited up for a run – had to burn off some of that feel good energy. I say “suited up” because it is late in the year and chilly, which for me means gloves, ear warmers, water bottle, and usually and an MP3 player for entertainment, but I did not take it on this run. I kind of had a route in my mind before I left my house, but I am never sure when I take off where I am going or how far. I figured 4 to 6 miles. As it turned out, I ran 6 miles, and the route was a variation of many other runs. I ran through a favorite park that has a bridge over a narrow stream. I usually stop on the bridge and stretch and do a bit of meditating and bird-watching, which is probably why it’s a favorite park. I also met Frank and Sitka. Sitka, the dog being walked by its owner, Frank, was a bit shy, but not unfriendly. Later on I would meet another dog and its owner, Dwight and Lady Mary, who was a chow mix. After the introductions, we got into a discussion about how chows have a solid black tongue and mixed chow breeds usually have spots on their tongues. I know because we have a chow mix with spots on his tongue.
On the second half of the run, coming up a main thoroughfare I was looking at the red, white, and blue banners along the street. I had seen them before on previous runs. They were on utility poles along the way, about every half a block or so, and had been put up by the city of Beaverton to honor servicemen and servicewomen. On each banner was the person’s name and branch of the service. I’ll just give the branch and first names of a few – Navy, Art; Army, Arturo; Air Force, Lance; and Marines, Bailey. I think that it is extremely cool to honor them. Thank you, Beaverton for doing that.
Heading for home now, the end of a rewarding day. Maybe I’ll see you out on a run some day.
blazinbernie
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