Randomness from the walking commute

Since we moved to our new (temporary) office space in the U District, I have been walking to and/or from work most days. A couple of days a week I even run in. It's so nice to spend the hour walking rather than 45 minutes driving. Of course, it's summer now... we'll see how I feel when the rains come in November!

Anyway, today while walking home I had two very different, and unexpected exchanges. 

#1 - While walking up a hill in a not particularly busy area, I noticed a small group of young men walking toward me. 

Guy: How're YOU doin'?

Me: Fine, thanks, you?

Guy: Cool. Umm, hey, are you, umm, walking for the HEALTH?

Me: (surprised) Oh! No... just walking home from work. 

Guy: Well, all I can say is, well, you look GOOD.

Me: Aww, thanks!

Guy: No problem. 

#2 - While walking along a busy sidewalk, next to a sidewalk cafe, a man walks toward me and as I get close to him says:

WOULD YOU NOTICE ME IF I PUT MY #*CK IN YOU EAR?!?!

Exchange #1, unexpectedly nice. Exchange #2, unexpectedly weird. I did wonder if maybe he was wearing an earpiece and was talking to someone else... Who knows. Very odd. 

That's the magic of the walking commute. Sometimes things are delightful, sometimes things are weird. And sometimes you see a pink bunny painted on a garage door. 

Running to work!!!

So I ran to work today, which has left me feeling like a badass ALL DAY. 

Sure, it was only 4.65 miles, but there is something about combining a necessary journey with exercise that always makes me super happy. 

Scenes from the run: before the Good Karma 5K

Today I am going to complete part one of my "Pay It Forward" goal by volunteering at the Good Karma 5K... but I still wanted to get in a few gentle miles before the run, so I sloooowwwllllyyyyyy ran the loop  before my volunteer shift starts at 8:15. The rain held off ... until just now! ... but the threatening skies meant that I pretty much had the path to myself. This morning's highlight? A flock of Canada geese, including some very gangly "teenagers" fiercely defending their stretch of beach. 

Scenes from the run... ummmm, WALK

Having had eye surgery on Wednesday, I am not allowed to run until Sunday, when I can go for a "gentle" run. 

But I was feeling a bit antsy today, so I decided to go for a walk out to the lookout and back. Going for a walk, rather than a run, meant that I noticed a lot of interesting things, even while following a route I have run dozens of times.

I saw gorgeous rhodies that made me want to plant some in the front garden:

I saw a fine collection of toys:

I saw the signs:

I saw the grumpiest little gargoyle imaginable:

I saw some art on a phone pole:

I saw the strangest (yet perhaps most obvious?) mascot for a plumbing company:

So, while I hope to get back to running soon, I enjoyed slowing down and really taking notice of my surroundings during today's walk. 

And at the end, discovered that I had crossed this Nike+ milestone:

2501 miles?!? That doesn't include a couple of hundred miles running on treadmills (I don't bother with the shoe pod anymore). But still a nice big number, I think!!!

 

Scenes from the run

I don't know who makes these arrangements, but they are always a pleasant surprise when I run around Green Lake.