Forever the amateur…
I love autumn! I always did, even before running, but even more now with running. The cool temps, the sharp air, even the cold, windy rains. I could happily live in fall all year round. So here we are – it’s cooling off, the leaves are swinging into change, and I’m more motivated – damn excited – to run than I have been in a long long time. I step out my door to test the air and it’s cool – mid 50’sF maybe, and there’s a wind – the kind of wind that’s bringing a storm but it’s still a couple hundred miles away so I got plenty of time. Clearly this is not the weather for shorts and a t-shirt! It is definately time to break out the tights! You see, I love my running tights!! Now, don’t get me wrong, I look as disturbing in them as any other average bodied person but, for some absurd reason, they make me feel more confident. No need to worry about shaving my legs, no annoying shorts doing the crotch creep, they’re black (totally slimming), they’re sleek. What’s not to love? So, because it’s so darn chilly out I dig up the tights, a long sleeve shirt, and a microfiber pull-over. I even halfway contemplated my wooley headband to cover my ears.
Dressed and ready for the elements, I jumped in the car and headed for the trail – headed out of the woods, headed down the hill, headed right into the rest of the world, which traditionally is – and I know this dammit – an easy 10 degrees warmer than where I live. Summer, winter, doesn’t matter – it’s always warmer out there and I never never seem to remember that. Geez.
Of course at the trailhead, as soon as I got out of the car, I pulled off the microfiber top but – unwilling to admit my foolishness – I actually tied it around my waist just in case the wind gave me a chill *sigh* So. Here I go: tights, long sleeve shirt, pullover tied at my hips – I’ve got my ip0d, I’ve got my Garm!n, I’ve got my freakin’ cell phone because I’m technically working at the time (and not for nothing, this is a stupid giant cell phone! No Razrrrr, or whatever the hell it is, for me when I can have something akin to a 1992 bag phone clipped to my waist). In any case, it wasn’t long before I was crossing paths with a muscled young runner-man in shorts and tank top and it occurred to me, as the sweat began to moisten my chestarmsneckbackandlegs, that I might be a tad overdressed. Despite the sun beaming down on my full gear condition, I managed to have the best run in ages – one of those immediate grooves that makes you want to latch on and not let go. I’m not running very far, being that I’m starting again again again (again) but it’s really the first time this whole year that I’m truly feeling the love returning. I hope that’s a good sign. If that’s the magic of the tights I’ll wear them all year round!
