Monday, December 27, 2010

Santa Drives a Bentley

 I set out in the dark Christmas morning to get a run in before all the festivities began. Everyone was still tucked snugly in there beds, the kids snoring away unaware Santa had come and gone in the night. Stockings recently stuffed hung precariously from the mantel, gifts under the tree seemed to have multiplied, I was surprised the kids weren't up, I am pretty sure I would have been at there age.

 It was easier getting out of the house with everyone asleep, I quietly snuck out into the cold. I glanced up at the thermometer as I left the porch it read 13 degrees, my nose hair froze. The smell of wood smoke hung thick in the air, it reminded me of winter and being in Vermont skiing; it was comforting. My foot steps on the pavement and the periodic sound of furnaces venting along my route was the only sound. I hadn't seen a single car or distant head light and didn't expect to. It was a perfectly peaceful Christmas morning run.

 The cold had gotten me moving and had helped me keep a quick pace throughout my run. I had gone farther than I intended and the first rays of light were just peaking over the horizon, I doubt anyone was up yet. I decided to do a loop through the cemetery before heading home. I enjoyed running in the cemetery, I found it peaceful.

 There were no cars in either direction as I ran through the cemetery gate and turned onto Main Street towards home. I wondered if I would make it home with out seeing a single moving vehicle? Just then I heard what sounded like a bicycle coming up behind me, it was following me.
"What the heck, just pass me already!" Annoyed now that I was being stalked I stopped and turned to confront whoever it was following me.

 Surprisingly; It was Santa Claus and he was driving a Bentley. Not just a Bentley however, it was at least 20 feet long, the brightest chrome and the red'ist red you have ever seen. He was smiling with the jolly smile described in books and on Christmas specials. He rolled down the window as he brought the Bentley to a stop right next to me.

 Somehow I was able to get out a witty "Your running a little late aren't you Santa?"
He laughed and responded while keeping his jolly smile; that he had had sleigh trouble due to the weather (no snow) and asked, "Could you point me towards Sugar Loaf?" "I always have trouble navigating from the ground."
 I gave Santa the directions he requested, he thanked me with the most cheerful "Merry Christmas!" I had ever heard. As he pulled away I notice the license plate, it read (North Pole ~ Sleigh 2) then he was gone.

 A stiff wind blew right through me, I was standing on the edge of Maine Street. Had I just seen the Santa Claus?  I shook my head out of its fog and ran home. No one will believe me.
 

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

5k on Turkey day

 While I was training for the Marine Corps Marathon my 8 year old daughter often asked to run or ride her bike with me while I ran. I could only reply, that after the marathon we would choose a race to run together. Painfully, my denial of her request stung more than once, she often sat in the dark at the top of the stairs as I prepared for pre dawn runs and say....

"Good morning, Daddy can I come with you?"
I would cringe with guilt at the request "No" I would say "I am training, you and I will run together after the marathon."
"ooook" she would say in a quiet dejected voice that daughters use to get right under dad's skin. Immediately making you wonder how good of a Dad you are. Getting going was always a challenge after this quiet conversation with the silhouette at the top of the stairs, I was always gratefully I could not see the expression on her face

 No sooner had I crossed the finish line on marathon day she asked "when are we going to start running?" We chose a Turkey Day 5k ,we had a few weekends to get some training runs in together so she and I developed a little training log and started a count down. 

 I will always remember our first run together. Before bed she set out her clothes and shoes for an early morning departure. When I woke her the next morning she sprung out of bed, dressed and was down stairs in an instant getting her shoes on. As I descended the stairs I heard her say to herself "this is so cool" I beamed!  We started with walking a mile, she quickly had enough of that and was eager to run. We lengthened our distance with a little running mixed with walking. Soon we were running more than walking  and finally race day.

 She was nervous she did not want me to leave her and was relieved when I told her we would do the entire race together running or walking we would finish. Start gun went off and she started talking and never stopped.....
"look at that guys hat"
"that guy has the same shoes as you"
"how long are we going to be doing this"
"look Pilgrims!" we were in Amish country, I laughed

 Our walking stints were short but few. In the final lap she told me she was tired and I mentioned that when I get tired I choose someone in front of me and try to catch them. If I catch them I choose someone else and try to catch them until I've finished. She started reeling people in and crossed the finish line in 37minutes with me right on her tail. It was my best race ever!