10 miles
lake nokomis and back
61 degrees
10 miles! It’s been some time since I ran 10 miles. I can’t run it as fast or as effortlessly as I did back in 2017 or 2018, but I did it, and it wasn’t bad, and I don’t feel terrible. Each week, I’m getting a little better and mentally tougher.
Sunny, cool, calm. I liked the moments when I was able to run on the soft dirt, on the boulevard or beside the paved path — the feel of fine grit under my feet, the sound of it shushing — sh sh sh, it is time, now, for the deepening and quieting of the spirit.
Heard a coxswain’s voice, below in the gorge. I just realized that I usually write, “heard the rowers,” but I hardly ever hear the boats or rowers talking or oars cutting through the water unless I’m down in the gorge, next to the river. What I hear is the coxswain’s voice and I think, Rowers!
I don’t remember seeing the river, but I did admire the beautiful blue of the lake. So blue! So inviting! The lake was crowded — some people walking, running, sitting, other people preparing to set up the course for tomorrow’s ywca tri. Halfway around the lake, I started hearing sirens, more and more of them. A few minutes later, I saw them parked on the road, lights flashing. I’m not sure what happened, but I hope everyone’s okay.
On my way back from the lake, I passed by a coffee shop where we used to get coffee when we lived over here. The outdoor seating was full of people. I liked listening to the buzz of conversations — no intelligible words, just the pleasant, relaxed sound of a Saturday morning in the summer.
10 More Things
- a roller skier’s wheels — squeaking, sounding old or rusted or rickety
- a fine mist above the falls
- a runner blasting some music as he ran by — can’t remember what he was listening to
- a view of the water from the bridge: a stretch of sparkles
- ducks, taking over the water at the little beach
- a little kid to his dad at the beach, can I throw a rock in the water? dad: since no one else is here, you can
- turkeys! 4 of them by the overlook, a kid calling out to his dad, turkeys! turkeys!
- a few seconds later, a dog barking at the turkeys
- a group of runners listening to “treasure” by bruno mars
- Mr. Walker-Sitter! sitting on his walker next to the fence on the edge of the trail