going the extra mile

I wanted to turn around and go home. It was 88 degrees at 8 o'clock tonight, with such stifling humidity that I felt like a gnat drowning in a vat of honey. I'd had a lethargic day, and knew that I needed to get in a good long run, but I could barely lift my legs and my back was tied up in knots from the cross-training I had done over the weekend.

Upon leaving the house I found myself heading right towards my 30 minute route, and had to quickly redirect myself, towards the farmer's market it was. If I am going to run a marathon I can't keep being a wuss. I reached my half way point. "I want to go home" were the only words echoing in my mind. Just as I reached the corner I heard another voice say "ok" but it wasn't an "ok, I give you permission to turn around" it was an "ok, I hear you and I acknowledge that going home would be nice... but I also want to keep running." And with that I crossed the street.

Just as I crossed the street a cool breeze blew, the first, and only, of the night. A few yards past that two of the most adorable raccoons imaginable, their bodies no larger than my running shoe, came out across the fence and into the tree. Then there were two bunnies, and a doe. I guess dusk = dinner time. Had I turned around sooner, I wouldn't have been in those places at that time and I would have missed it.

I often dismiss Raleigh for it's lack of grandeur. We're not D.C or NYC. We're not Seattle or Portland. But to live in a city where I can bike to a coffee shop or walk to a bar, and then just a block the other direction experience wildlife and woods is a pretty remarkable balance, one that is worth going the extra mile for.