I knew this was coming for awhile now but tonight is was more evident than ever. I'm running out of daylight.
I do the majority of my midweek runs after work. In the three years that I've been running I used to just head out the front door and put in the miles on the streets around the neighborhood. But this summer more than the others I've been doing many of my widweek runs on the roads and trails in Frank G. Bonelli Regional County Park. Bonelli is only a 5 mile drive from home.
Tonight was only a 5 mile run. But by the time I got home, changed and out there and back to the car it was 7:20 and the sun was gone. It's sad knowing that these runs will have to be put on hold for a season.
I imagine I feel much like my older son who's about to move away for his sophomore year of college. He's been spending more and more time in the last couple of weeks away from home, out with his friends getting in the last bit of quality time he can. I have a feeling he'll be squeezing in some more time with them up until next Thursday when we move him into student housing. And just like him I'll be squeezing every last widweek run in at Bonelli before the sun sets by 7:00 or so.
I feel too like that high school guy who goes off to college leaving his sweetheart behind, only getting to see her on the weekends. Once the setting sun puts Bonelli out of the reach midweek, it'll just have to be a weekend only running destination until next summer. Unlike the high school guy, I'm fairly confident that Bonelli will still be there waiting for me when I come back.
So for the next couple of months I expect to be running back on the streets under the street lamps and by the headlights of the oncoming cars. I may sneak in a midweek morning run or and early exit from work now and then. Hopefully by next spring the trails will be grown back over a little and I can plow my way through shoulder high mustard again.
Bonelli and I have had a lot of fun together this summer and I'm going to miss it.
7 comments:
Cool weather and darker days have been rolling in here as well. I'm looking forward to my first Fall of running outdoors. Soon, I'll investigate the parks in my area and see what's available...
Perfect post for the first day of autumn, I hope you discovery a new running place this fall!
I'm loving the cooler weather for sure. I only run outside, no dreadmill for me. I'm just not a big fan of running the trails in the dark, there's the footing issues and all that stuff rustling around in the dark kind of gives me the heebee jeebee's.
I'm worried about my evening trail running days coming to a close soon too... Thought I did just get a new headlamp and if I can find evening running partners I'll still hit the trails :)
I didn't like the trail running at night the first few times, but it is a lot of fun to do every once in a while. It is better if you can get a group together to head out into the woods after dark. I don't get out on the trails much anymore so I will be out on the roads with you as well.
Well written, Darrell, thanks!
I'm sure you know that any running story that uses a relationship analogy is awesome in my book.
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