'You're sweet as sugar but you won't melt'

Sunday May 17, 2009

Sundays are my "long" run days. This week I had an hour long run on the calendar. Even though the forecast called for isolated scattered showers, I was looking forward to running for 60 minutes.

I woke up and enjoyed my usual long run breakfast of pancakes, eggs (or another protein), and coffee - of course. After breakfast, I looked outside. It wasn't raining but it looked like it would start any minute. So I waited for the rain to start and stop. That is usually what happens when there are isolated scattered showers forecasted. The rain comes and goes pretty quickly.

Two hours later, it had not rained yet. So, I headed out. Guess what happened? When I was less than a mile from home, it started pouring. The rain was steady but it was not thundering and lightning. So, I kept running. I was feeling crazy for running while it was pouring rain. Then, I passed a couple running, another woman running alone, and a man running alone. Four other crazies!

Around mile 4, I was running up a hill when I thought I saw my vehicle driving toward me. I thought I was seeing things. Then the vehicle stopped and it was actually my husband. (I always leave my running route on my pc.) When he heard the rain pouring, he thought I might want a ride home. My daughter knew better. She had told him 'since it wasn't thundering or lightning that Mom is ok.' She was right. Since it wasn't thundering or lightning, I declined a ride home. How sweet was that though!

On rainy days, I always tell the young girls I coach "you're sweet as sugar and you are not going to melt if you run in the rain."

Mother's Day 2008

Did you know that the woman responsible for Mother's Day becoming a legal holiday was not a mother? It is true. She was a daughter who wanted to honor her mother and all mothers. She fought hard and won to get the legal holiday Mother's Day.

However, she later regretted her efforts and tried to get the holiday cancelled after hearing "Happy Mother's Day"and seeing greeting cards and store bought flowers purchased for Moms. She really wanted Mother's Day to be a non-commercial holiday to honor mothers. She envisioned children and spouses writing letters to mothers expressing appreciation and gratitude. Imagine that! Taking the time to write a letter instead of signing your name to a greeting card.

I was reminded of this woman's journey as I ran 7 miles in the rain on the morning of Mother's Day. During my rainy run, I observed a man with a basket very carefully selecting the perfect flowers from his yard. I am assuming he lived there. Even though it was raining, he remained selective; picking only the perfect flowers for his bouquet.

Remember next year, "on Mother's Day".