Girding my Loins

Weight: 209, Distance 21.6, Time: 2:36:00, Pace 7:16, Avg HR 160. Temp: Cool

Yes Girding is a word (Pay attention SCRABBLE players). I looked it up. Here is the link so you can see http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gird.

I refer here to the "Prepare oneself for action" version. I was thinking about this this morning as I started to get ready to run. Last night was my high school reunion (more on that later) and I got a late start today. Not that I was out late, I was home by about 11:30. I had a good time but I had met everyone from my year and I was getting antsy to go - plus Jeff was my ride and he was ready to go.

So here is another myth of running to explode. I had said earlier that running was cheap and then proved it wrong. Today I take on the myth that you put on the running shoes and just run.

I start with:

Putting "Body Glide" on my chest, thighs and feet. If you want to know why see the "Bleeding Nipples" Post

Then on goes the chest Heart Monitor strap across my chest 1 inch below my manly breasts

Then the special tight underwear that goes on under the special "wicking" running shorts

Then the special "wicking" running shorts overtop of the nylon undies (hopefully I don't build up static while running - I could be disastrous if I go into the gas station).

Then the special "Running Room" non blister socks that give me blisters

Then the "CoolMax" running shirt - again see "Bleeding Nipples" post

Following this I put on my "CoolMax" special Canada baseball hat

Then the Garmin gets strapped to my wrist like Spiderman's web shooting device

Think we are ready? Not by a longshot...

Then Samsung gets strapped to the upper right bicep

My Batman utility belt gets filled with three packets of Poweraide slime, Lori's little cell phone and the waterbottles filled with water and loaded into the belt

I then fill my Nalgene drop bottle with water and carry it in my right hand to the door.

I pull on my running shoes (with the custom inserts) and lace them

Now - I am READY!

It is no wonder that the Knights of Old had equerries who would get them ready for battle by strapping on their armour. Anybody want to be my equerry?

The reunion was great. Given that the school was only open for 12 years there were over 550 people there and the event was sold out. I saw a lot of people that I have not seen since 1974. They don't look any different (of course neither do I - let's all pretend together!). I saw many of my teachers including my old track coach who must have been stunned that I would run a marathon (he only remembered me as a pole vaulter).

I was also immortalized (although no one knew it was me) for my winter day exploit many years ago. I was bored and loitering in front of a third floor window. A pristine field of snow lay before me on the football field.

Donning my winter clothes and boots, I recruited a couple of guys and we shuffled across the football field, three abreast, spelling out from sideline to sideline and goalpost to goalpost a large four letter expletive deleted. I thought that people would look out of the third floor window, like I had earlier that day, and would be amazed (and laugh).

I forgot that my high school lay under the main flight path for Pearson airport (YYZ) and just south of highway 401. I guess that a traffic helicopter first noticed it and mentioned it (not the word - George Carlin can explain why) but the circumstance. Then the phones began to ring in the main office as every early morning arriving passenger on the left side of a plane was treated to my morning wake up call. Air Canada was NOT amused.

The principal, John MacNeill, now deceased, was out there in about 20 minutes with two of the custodial staff in their cars obliterating my message to the world!. I never fessed up. I was terrified that I would be kicked out of school. I didn't breath easy for a month.

I had forgot about it until two of the speeches mentioned it. I guess I am a rebel at heart!

I ran today across Oakville from Bronte to Mississauga. I was wrong - the mafia guys live in East Oakville, not Burlington. HUUUGE honkin' houses. These guys live like the old Robber Barons.

I even saw my brother-in-law, actually he saw me and waited until I got close to his parked van and then blew the horn. Scared the crap out of me. He was laughing himself silly as I ran off into the distance.

I had to cut the run short. My knee was beginning to hurt. This time on the outside of the left knee. CHRIST - I can never get a break. Lori drove over and picked me up at the downtown library. The back to the ice and ibuprofen. We will see what tomorrow brings!

JJ