The elephant on the track

I had an ironic discovery today during my run at lunch. Well, first I should say that I ran like an elephant for most of the first half or 2/3 of the run. I just felt heavy - my legs were like lead and it just felt like I was plodding along like an elephant. Other days I feel like I'm really light and almost bouncing along. I'm wondering if it is my energy level or what I've consumed for breakfast and snack that morning. More to think about for another blog.

Back to the irony at hand. Now, you must know first that I was the girl in junior high that hated gym class. Now, by hate I mean - really detest. So much so that I was willing to take the hit of getting a "B" in gym class after "forgetting" my gym uniform or swim suit one too many times. I specifically hated to do the "mile run" in gym class. What torture!! I distinctly remember running one day and we had music playing on the overhead speakers to get us motivated. The song "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band came on that day - this was a big song back in the mid eighties. As I ran in torture in my, oh, so flattering gym uniform I began to hate that song just about as much as I hated running. Cut to today: I was reminded about this whole experience as I hit the half-way point of my run and the song "Centerfold" came up next on my "running2" playlist. It turns out that I love this song now! Maybe it was because I finally felt free of my elephant legs. Maybe it was because I was happy that I finally had achieved small victory over my junior high experience by actually enjoying running now - in my 40's. Maybe it was because I just dug the groove of a cool eighties jam. I don't know. But at that moment I was inspired to clap with the beat to the song and yes, actually sing some lyrics out loud as I ran. I didn't even care that I might have been breaking some cardinal rules in the runner's code doing these things. Nor did I care that the women in the aerobics class below the track were giving me occasional curious stares. All I cared about at that moment was moving forward..."my blood runs cold, (clap clap), my memory has just been sold, angel is a centerfold, angel is a centerfold" (clap clap). Oh sing it J. Geils Band...I'm with you! This one is for chubby junior high girls everywhere who struggle through gym class. Keep moving forward girls. Some day you will find your own stride.