Running for office

Well, OK, not really running for office, but today I did run with a State Senator! I was plodding along not making very good time when I heard a couple of runners behind me. I moved over to the side of the road and guys passed me by. I congratulated them on their "nice pace" and then decided I'd keep up with them. Lately I have been running anywhere from 8 to 8:45 minute miles, these guys were cruising along at at least a 7:30 pace. But I though what the heck, we don't have too much further to go along the park blocks near Reed. Well it was actually further than I thought, but I kept up. As we neared Reed, I had plans to do my extra miliage loop through the campus. I figured they'd turn off and I would be able to slow down. Nope, they continued along my path. Maybe they will turn onto the foot bridge, nope they continued on my route. So at this point I said "I'm never gonna get to slow down if you guys keep going on my route!" They laughed and we started talking. Well the one fellow introduced himself as State Senator Rod Monroe, I was running with a celebrity! He said they run this route every Monday and invited me to join them. I really hope I run into them again.

On the subject of politics, (I think I may have mentioned this at one point) one of the indications of the economy that I, as a runner notice, is the frequency of port-a-potties at construction sites. The worse off the economy, the less there are. Two years ago there were tons of them on my route. If I needed to find one, it was relatively easy to seek them out. In the last year or so it has been increasingly harder to find them. Fortunately my normal route goes through an affluent neighborhood, folks there still have money to remodel and therefor I can find them if I need them. I actually have several mapped out in my mind! Today the need cam on while I was far away from any that I knew of. Fortunately I saw one at a dead-end at the bottom of a hill. I ran down the hill and found it locked! Then I headed to the park (which many times the bathrooms are locked before 7.) It was before 7. So I uncomfortably continued on my way. Oh good, there is one. Locked as well! Finally I got to one I had mapped in my mind, but never used. Well I should have, it was nice! Well, nice as a port-a-pot can be on the side of the road.

BTW, 34.5 miles last week. I doubt I will make my 30 mark this week or next as my mom is coming to town. She and her husband John are staying at a motel that I will get at least a mile or two in running to it to meet them in the morning. I think my body could use a little break anyway.