Wait…why do I like this??

In case you’re visiting for the first time, I love to run. Like a lot. Like, I’ve lost toenails over it, ran on a hurt ankle and have been known to run when I haven’t gotten totally over the flu. I tried dragging missionary companions out running with me and gave one shin splints. So, ya, I like running.

I can get so lost in what I am doing that I don’t pay attention all that well. One such occasion was a recent long distance run where I had to run on the street in an area that gets pretty narrow. At this point I look across the street to see an old friend from my Logan days and instead of just thinking to myself, “oh, there goes so-n-so” I yelled out, “Hey! Is that Brad??” He looks over, bewildered and I yell again, waving frantically, “Hiiiii!! It’s Mindi!!” Aaanndd that’s when I almost got hit by a car! Yup, I’m a dork.

I follow a couple of running stores on Facebook and one of them posed the question “What’s your biggest fear regarding running?” Mine? Falling. Getting injured. Getting attacked. Getting hit by a car. Falling. Wait….why do I like doing this?

Well, today was one of those runs where I really did wonder that very thing. Luckily I don’t have many of those but this one was pretty epic. It coulda been worse but, seriously, wow. Good times.

It started off with having to layer up the runner and the baby being dragged along because I live in Utah where one day it’s 70* and the next day it’s 27*. I also grabbed 2 blankets to keep her bundled and warm. Next, the dog…did I mention I got a dog? A big, strong and energetic dog? So, one hand, stroller, other hand dog and off we go. And there was my mistake. The blankets kept falling off, the leash kept slipping off my gloved hand and the dog kept getting a little excited and trying to bolt all while I’m trying to keep the stroller from rolling into oncoming traffic! At one point I lost one blanket, turned to grab it and couldn’t find it anywhere. Fine, I’ll find it on my way back. Still trying to keep dog and stroller and my own body under control when suddenly there’s these giant piles of leaves covered in snow that I have to trudge thru- THREE OF THEM!! And the blanket falls off again and I run over it in the wet mucky leaves…here’s your wet blanket baby…Next, I was dying of heat-overlayered- but the only thing I take the time to get rid of is my gloves. Guess what, one falls off the stroller after the blanket falls for the 1,235th time and after I pick up the glove, the blanket falls AGAIN but this time gets tied up in the wheel and rips the blanket! I get back to where I lost the other blanket and I cannot find it anywhere until I look out on the busy high traffic street and, there it, lying helpless on the side of the road after being ran over by who knows how many cars! It had to have fallen when I was in the crosswalk and I think of all the people waiting there watching me keep running with my kid’s blanket lying in the middle of the street! And then I think of all the people watching me as I grab this beat up blanket on the side of the road, as though I was that desperate for a blanket! When will this run end?! I finally get to my street only to have both blankets get caught in the wheel! By the time I got home I was amazed we all made it alive! Freaking miracle.

I won’t even talk about the things I totally lost control of. My potty mouth. My bladder.

And yet, as I stood in the shower washing away the sweat pee and shame I was thinking of my next run.

Hopefully a run without a stroller, dog or mother-freakin-blankets.