I was loving my run tonight though. It was just me and my feet and my thoughts. I had made it about a third of the way through my run and was running around Depaul University. I turned a corner and suddenly, I had the wind at my back and I found myself running faster without any more effort! I found this quite exciting for some reason and thought to myself, "I should go even faster! It will feel like flying!" Well, faster I went, flying I did not, unless you count the dive I took about 10 giant steps into my "flying." Remember, I am running right around a university so there are college kids all over the place. When my toe hit the two-inch raised section of sidewalk and I ate it, I almost dove right into two young college boys and nearly scared them to death! I think they jumped almost as high as I did! They had the decency not to laugh at me outright and immediately rushed to my aid as I played dead there on the sidewalk. Out of all the empty sections of dark sidewalk tonight, I had to pick the section with two young guys on it!
I'm fine. I have scrapes all up my right arm and shoulder, plus holes in my new running pants and stinging knees, but my I think I left more ego there on the sidewalk than skin. I have to say though, I did make good time, despite the crash. I think I ran faster than ever once I got up to get as much distance between myself and the very gentlemanly witnesses I left behind.
Oh! As if one episode of maniac running wasn't enough for one night, I scared the you-know-what out of a biker tonight too! I was almost home and was coming up on a patch of wet cement on the sidewalk that was roped off. In order to get around it, I had to run in the street for a bit, so I hopped out between two parked cars and into the bike lane and right in front of a biker going the opposite (and correct) direction! He skidded and ran his bike into the curb while I apologized profusely. He didn't seem too upset for some reason and there was no damage to his bike, thank goodness. I was a menace on the streets tonight! Watch out for me if you are ever in my neighborhood past dark!
