There's only one speed, My Speed

Summer days are so hot right now. The best time to go out and get things done are before 2pm and after 6pm. Any attempt to venture out into the inferno blazing just outside the front door renders one dehydrated & exhausted for the rest of the day, if not prepared. Growing up I remember my mom telling us to wear sunscreen for protection, but of course us kids never wore any. In fact, before we knew of Blazing Saddles we'd say, "Lotion! We don't need no stinkin lotion!" Now it's an absolute must. Routine sunburn will undoubtedly change something on the molecular level of your health these days. Equally important are protecting your eyes. Your eyes. Organs that are constantly exposed to the outside world should be protected from harm. Days here remind me of Planet Crematoria where the sun rises and everything on the horizon starts exploding into lava-hot magma and when the guy walks into the sun's rays he gets vaporized?

So.

The other day I was at the park for a run before the hottest part of the day and saw something that was with me for the entire day and the better part of the weekend. I'll explain later.

It was a good run. A run I've been meaning to push through to the finale for a while now. Lately they've been as segmented, sloshful and shamefully pitiful in performance as my C:\ drive at home. Although unprepared for the long distance run about-having no water, no shades, no head covering, but did have sunscreen-I ran long and strong. Self inflicted torture is good for your health isn't it?

At times all running is is just that: Running. Running from what's behind you to get closer to the goal that's in front of you.

Now to what was with me, I'm chuggin along the beaten path and see a couple walking. A man and his wife, both older. The man is noticably walking ahead of the wife at a brisk pace while the wife is behind noticably trying to keep up. The man is clearly on his mission to get some sort of work done while I gather in those few seconds his wife is there because he said so. He's got a fanny pack with water. An Indiana Jones hat on. Gore-tex gear. She's got nothing. She's wearing sweat pants. It's hot. I'm gone. Coming back I pass them again. Except this time he's way ahead of her, like 50 yards or so while she stumbles a bit in an effort to keep up with Mr. Survivorman up ahead. I'm passing and ask the poor Mrs. if she's okay. I see her face is soaked in sweat and pale in color. She's exhausted. We've all got a long way to go to get to the pavilion. She's says her Husband gave her some water so she's okay. Really though, she's in danger. Grave danger. Heat stroke was on the back of her neck she just didn't admit it.

I felt pity and anger towards this brief encounter. Pity for the poor woman who was being dragged through the treacherous stretch in the blazing heat by her unsympathetic husband and anger at the husband because he was being so selfish. Kind of like an overgrown child trying to get his way with mother. I learned so much from this guy I should have thanked him for letting me see the light on how not to be a good husband/human being. I really didn't know there were cave men still walking around. He was a good sport though. I ran fast and he managed to stay on my back the entire way. His wife I imagine made it back 30minutes later.