One of my followers had asked why there haven’t been any running posts for weeks. Simple question. Simple answer. Because I haven’t been running. Hurt? No. Ill? No. Bad Weather? Of course not. Pathetically lazy? Yes. So, we’re off this morning to break this 30-day streak of nothing. For those of you that are new to my running regime, it is 10% physical and 90% mental. So, I play word association games to keep it going.
So, what was rolling through my mind during my run…
Summer vacation. How long ago it was. (Caribbean vs. Paris and they take Caribbean. WHERE IS THE COMMON SENSE HERE? The King Loses (Again) – and again and again. Mimi has gone more than 25x. Me. Zero.)
Thanksgiving is coming. Turkey. Mashed potatoes. Gravy. Pumpkin pie. (I can feel my energy draining. Tryptophan made a leap from my mind into my body. I yawn.)
Stuffing. Glazed carrots. Whipped cream. Apple Pie. (I’m practically walking now.)
Leftovers. Turkey sandwiches. More pie. Heaping scoops of ice cream. (I stop. I need to re-group. What sort of mind discipline plan are you working on here pal? I take a few deep breaths. And, I start running again. Let’s try a different mental path)
Paris. The Louvre. The Eiffel Tower. The Grand Palais. Palais Garnier. Cobblestones. History. (OK, now that’s better. Keep it rollin’)
Quiche. Baguettes. French Onion Soup. Cheese. (OMG. This is going down hill fast. 911. 911. 911.)
Croque Monsieur, Crepes, thin crust butter pastries, Chocolate Croissants, (Free fall now. I have to stop again. I walk for 1/4 mile. My trusty GPS says that I’ve run 2.1 miles. No, that’s a stretch to call it a run. Let’s call is a walk-run. Yes, that’s better. I need a different mind-word game to get me back in gear. What comes to mind? Where in the world have you run and what comes to mind when you think of the city? Here we go…)
- Castlegar, B.C., Canada (home)
- Banff, AB, Canada (Majestic; God’s playground)
- Comox, B.C. Canada (Bro; dogs; deep wood trails next to river; Canada-pride)
- Krackow, Poland (War memorials, grey, friendly, sausage)
- Seoul, Korea (gray; friendly; industrial; children in uniforms; ginger cookies)
- Grand Caymans (heat; blue skies; blue water; heat; fish)
- Mexico City, Mexico (heat, crowded, corn tacos; bougainvilleas)
- Acapulco, Mexico (heat; breeze; chillin’, Empanadas)
- Los Cabos, Mexico (surf; heat; kids; waves; waves; waves; caramel flan)
- Buenos Aires, Argentina (historic, steak, Plaza De Mayo)
- Stockholm, Sweden (hockey, winter, progressive; Swedish apple pie and pancakes)
- Budapest, Hungary (Castle, goulash, river)
- Athens, Greece (history, Acropolis, Greek Salad, fish)
- London, England (world class; soup)
- Nassau, Bahamas (heat, cold water, coconut rice pudding)
- La Ramona, DR (Beautiful. Poor. Sad. Mango. Chocolate bread pudding)
- Fajardo, Puerto Rico (Mountains, Rain forest, Islands, Paco, rice & beans)
- Geneva, Switzerland (clean, efficient, guarded, cobblestones, chocolate)
- Zurich, Germany (industrial, efficient, cheese)
- Madrid, Spain (Royal Palace, Palace Mayor, Puerto Del Sol, Fish; Leche frita fried custard squares)
- Barcelona, Spain (Artsy like Miami, Las Ramblas, Park Guell, Crema catalana custard pudding)
- Tokyo, Japan (Cherry Blossoms, Clean, Crowded, Trains; cheesecake made with Hokkaido milk )
- Miami, FL, USA (Weather, beach, Miami Beach, arrozo con pollo)
- Santa Monica, CA (Beautiful People; weather; fresh fruit)
- Los Angeles, CA, USA (Spread out; chic; concrete jungle; enchiladas)
- Seattle, WA USA (Fresh; Wholesome; clean; coffee, fish, chocolate chip cookies)
- San Diego, CA, USA (Breeze; weather; chill, cobbler)
- San Francisco, CA, USA (coffee; breeze; peace; zen; Chinese food)
- Chicago, IL, USA (Chicago Style Italian Beef sandwich, Eric’s birthplace, wind, winter cold)
- New York City, NY, USA (Central Park; Carnegie Deli Corn Beef Sandwich)
- Darien, CT, USA (home now, Long Island Sound, peaceful)
- Marquette, MI, USA (Presque Isle Park; natural beauty; Pasties)
- Singapore, Singapore (Clean, Humid; did I say humid, Snow Ice Dessert)
- Nevis (Mountain, friendly, black cake, threatening monkeys)
- New Delhi, India (Hot, traffic, dusty, crowded, bustling, friendly, Balushahi)
This worked!
Time Check: Horrible. Can’t disclose. Humiliating.
Moral of Story:
1) I’m blessed to have visited and run in so many of the world greatest cities.
2) 2013? Paris or Bust!
Image Source: carnetimaginaire
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Running can be a big adventure.
I try to keep the adventures to a minimum. I have enough of those in my mind bumbling around.
Keep away from monkeys.
Yes, laughing now.
Mon cher ami,
My sympathy for your lack of exposure to all things Paris has now diminished significantly. Look at all the fabulous places you have been!! Sorry, little fiddles are now playing where once you almost had a full orchestra. Although you get a resounding ovation for having run in Tokyo – how did you find room to run? 🙂
I had to look up “Mon Cher ami” (good friend). Shameful given I took 3 years of French in high school and don’t know a lick of French. (And you continuously feeding my gaps.)
I knew this was coming – I had this post sitting partially finished back in August – figuring I could ride the collective follower sympathy bus for a while longer. That’s now gone.
As to running in Tokyo, I ran around a park in city center many times – trees were blossoming – it was spectacular (but crowded, yes.)
Yup..the chorus of “Poor Dave” has ended.. Happily, our support of your running thoughts continues unabated.
Yep. I figured that was coming.
David, please…….London: soup!! Where on earth did that come from? What kind of soup? Fish and chips more likely, Jellied Eels if you want to pursue authenticity over flavour, but SOUP?
How come your memory of each location has a food attached to it?
I want to congratulate you on having the energy to run at all in these (often) far off locations. When I have travelled that far, in what time I have to myself I want to sleep, walk as far as the nearest cafe or bar, stick my head in a book and maybe watch a DVD (because the local TV will be unwatchable). Impressive!
Rollin’ on the floor laughing. Sorry, when I think London, great city, but not it’s food so much. So my memory was running on a rainy, cold day and grabbing some hot soup (it was actually a form of chicken broth). I try to get out at least 1x when I am travelling. Don’t always work but its becoming a mission.
I noticed that a lot of your thoughts are about food when you run. If that’s what it takes, then I find that encouraging. I’m halfway there, on the road to becoming a runner.
Funny. I would recommend my approach to anyone.
I have not run in half the locations you mentioned but I have been fortunate enough to run in Tuileries Garden in Paris. I started running at dusk and just as I was finishing up the lights came on on the Eiffel Tower. They twinkled and danced in the evening sky. Absolutely breathtaking.
Wow. Must have been (breathtaking). Definitely on short list on bucket list. Thanks for sharing Brenna.
Hey David, not running related ( unless you have to run from Sandy). Just wishes that you and your family stays safe over the next few days. Take care!
🙂 Thank you Sandy. Appreciate your kind thoughts.
David, I *always* enjoy your travelogues! Keep running! 🙂
Will do Lori. Thanks…Stay dry.