Bring on the Rain

So Jeff and I may or may not be training for a half-marathon. I say it that way because then it might add some suspense to my blog instead of just revealing my lack of commitment toward running. Aren't you intrigued? "Are they training?" "Are they not training?" I know, the suspense is killing you. Believe me, it's killing Jeff too since I change my mind about it every other day.
Don't get me wrong...I don't hate running. I only hate it sometimes! But, I am learning to work through the wedgies, the oh so wonderful feeling of thighs rubbing together, the childlike question of "are we there yet?" and instead enjoy the scenery around me and celebrate the fact that just maybe I could do this.

Anyway. On Saturday, we went on running. We knew it was supposed to rain, but although the clouds were dark and threatening, we were making pretty good time and figured that we would make it home. About a mile from our house, the first rain drops start. "Not so bad," I thought. "It is actually kind of refreshing." Oh boy. We would have been fine, except we decided to play our "Good Samaritan" card for the day. (For me, it was really just an excuse to stop running and take a rest. I know, I know, I am SO altruistic).

We passed a house with a yard sale going on. Clearly, they did not see the weather forecast for the day. It was this little old man and woman with tables upon tables of things that they were trying to sell. It looked as though they had 40 years worth of things that they were trying to sell. We saw them trying to pack everything up, and stopped to help. It was at that point that the heavens really opened up. It was POURING! It was even kind of making my arms sting with the force it was coming down with. Trying to keep everything neat and organized went right out the window. We started grabbing whatever we could and shoving it in boxes, under tarps, etc., etc. We managed to get everything put away and Jeff and I said goodbye. After mentally giving myself the proverbially pat on the back (haha) I stopped realizing "Oh no! We are still about a mile away!"

It was ridiculous. The streets were like small streams, our shoes were squelching with every step we ran, and we were continually wiping the rain from our faces in order to even see! Let me tell you, running with clothes that are soaking wet is totally different than running when you are dry. I felt like I was 50 pounds heavier.

And yet....it was a celebratory kind of run. Cars were honking at us, fists pumped in our direction, bikers yelled out "Yeah! Hard-core!" And, as I listened to the Supremes "You Can't Hurry Love" on my iPod, tried to pull a "I do this all the time" face each time someone passed us, and then put on a last burst of speed to beat Jeff home to a steaming hot shower, I thought "Yeah! I am that hardcore."