long run.... long post

Heya,

Well today I braved the winter. I was already packed and ready to go to the gym to run on the treadmill for 1:45. My first choice would have been the talisman, but the talisman is like 12.50 now to get in,.... a lil pricey. At the last second I changed my mind though, the sun was shining and I called myself a wuss for not going outside. I don't like to be called a wuss, so I got out the winter running clothes, put em on and headed out the door.

The first part of the run went ok except my heart rate monitor wouldn't work. I wanted to keep it below 135-140 but it read 60-80 the whole run.... My average heart rate ended up as 71....... Anyways as I was saying I managed to go by feel and keep the pace down, not killing myself. I ran from my house to barlow, then across deerfoot, along the river past oclare and to 10th st. I crossed the river there and ran home. Coming back across Barlow I come into the bad neighborhood. It's right behind the church by franklin station. Now I realize the people living in this neighborhood had nothing to do with the latest murder. My apprehension about running through it is strictly based on my own experiences.

Today was no different, I had another guy beakin me off as I ran by. He came racing around the corner in his half ton and I guess I was too far in the driving lane(I was running up a big hill and it was the only clean ashalt to run on). So I called him a moron for driving so fast, he basically drove right at me half in the parking lane half on the road and he was beakin the whole time to his buddy about me. Then as I pass him he rolls down the window to make sure I could hear some of it. Fun stuff, friendly neighbors I have. I know I should just keep my eyes glued to the road and not say anything to provoke idiots like that. I guess I can't help it. I'm really considering carrying some bear spray or somthing, I've had some close calls, sometimes I've actually feared for my safety.

So I get home after that happy to be safe, and glad my neighbor didn't beat me up or somthing. As soon as I stop my asthma kicks in and I cough. It feels like I have to take short breaths to limit the coughing, but I still hack and hack till I can somtimes hear weazing in my chest. This is the main reason I don't run outside in the winter. I used to do it all the time with no problems, I would cough, but not to the point that it would bother me that much. Now after a coughing fit like that I can end up with a cold in a few days.

So in conclusion, maybe I need some bear spray and wait till it warms up a bit more?? Stupid I can't even run in -6, I'm sure some of you are laughing by now. I used to run in -30 no problem in manitoba, course then my neighbors wouldn't yell at me either like that. They would just approach me in church and ask if I was going to the olympics. It also seems a shame that I have to avoid running outside because I'm afraid of city people. Last fall I had a pitbull(or somthing that resembled it) come after me in that same area as today. I guess the spray would have helped there too. I've also nearly been hit by a super big gulp full of soda from a car going highway speed. I have other stories but I'm tired of typing now. Sorry if my posting was too long to read, I was rather bored tonight since I quit playin wow. Although if it was too long to read you wouldn't be reading this..... ok, I'm out, Cheers, have a good weekend,

Darryl