King Cobras, Nemo, and Running to the Beach

So, since the last time we met I've had some very full days. Filled with fun and adventure galore!!! The day after I treated myself to the great run that I talked about last time, I awoke to go out and run a not so great run. The cramp that I had mentioned before came back and, refused to leave me alone. I took most of that run easy, that is to say, at a conversational pace. It was slow going but, a nice break from the everyday. I think I had hit on a patch of slight over training so, I took it down a notch for the next couple of days.



That morning I still showed up for my usual 5 a.m. run in the dark but, the cramp was still there and it slowed my pace to a crawl, even more so than the dark. I finally finished my 6 miles in just over an hour and 3 minutes. I was disappointed but, I knew I was having an off day. I got in my car and turned on the AC to try to cool off before the next run at 6:30 with the rest of my detachment. Soon I was fast asleep and, completely dead to the world.



The next thing I knew I could hear the other guys talking and laughing outside my car. The sun was just coming up and I poked my head up above the top of my door. They were looking over at me as I was rubbing the sleep from my eyes and, making Gump jokes about me. "When I was tired of running I would sleep." I'm sure most people know the kind. I won't go into details. When I told them I was going to take it slow today my Det. NCO laughed and asked if I was going to only run a 6 or 5 minute mile.



But this really was an off day so, I ran with a buddy from work that morning and we talked about how we got into the Army and, what we did before we came in. We trudged up one of my favorite hills on the Canopy trails and, all talk stopped. I looked up the hill and quickened my pace towards the top. There were loose sandy areas that make this climb a pretty good workout all on it's own. However, by this time we had already done about 3 3/4 miles. I reached the top several paces ahead of my friend and headed down the other side. He was close behind but, we were about to hit the home leg of the run. This part is thick loose sand, like the kind you would find on a beach. He lost a few steps but then again, so did I and, as we reached the end of the run I stopped to walk and came running past me flinging his hands into the air and shouting, "I BEAT SSG. LOYD!!!"



We had a good laugh at that. I don't get bent out of shape at stuff like that like some guys I know. Everyone has an off day. The only time I get really frustrated is when I get beat when I know I could have done better. If I know that I didn't give 110%. But today was one of those days where I couldn't have cared less.



Saturday was the most fun filled day of all. At 10 in the morning my daughter had a ballet and tap dancing class. Which if you don't have a 2 year old girl in a dance class with other 2 year old girls, it's the funniest thing ever! After the dance class I loaded the family into the car and, we headed off to the coast. Our destination ... Wilmington, NC.



Ms. B was fussy for the first few minutes of the drive but soon fell asleep. However, shortly after her fits stopped, the sky began one of it's own. The wind was blowing and, the rain came down so hard that I had to drive 35 mph in a 55 mph zone just to be able to see the road. My wife and I nearly called the whole trip off when, as quickly as the storm had come, it ceased. The sun came out and the temps quickly climbed back up into the low to mid 90's. Perfect beach weather.



We arrieved in Wilmington just after 1 and went straight to the Serpentarium, I hope I spelled that right. My daughter went insane!!! She was soon running from cage to cage looking at all the different kinds of snakes, lizards, and crocs on display. On the second floor was a massive King Cobra, whose head was the size of my foot ( Just so you have some kind of reference I wear a size 9.) This was the kind of snake that nightmares are made of, a fact which my wife made certain I was aware of. My little girl is fearless though and when we came to the Black Mamba case she got right down in front of it. After that we went to Wrightsville Beach, which was just over 5 miles from our hotel, you can see where this is going, to get some dinner and see the Beach.



After dinner and the beach my wife was pretty wore out so we returned to the hotel for the evening. At least for the two of them. I had other plans for the evening, especially when my wife put on Highschool Musical for our daughter, OH DEAR LORD!!! My master plan was put into action as I pulled on my shorts, Rolling Stones shirt, and my Sauconys. I grabbed my water bottle kissed the wife and kid and, made my way out the door. That was a bit closer to Pop Culture than I really like to be.



Once on the road I made my way down the route that I had mapped out along our first drive from the hotel to the beach. I wasn't sure how long I would run but, I knew I had to outlast that wretched show. Before long I was cruising along the road with cars and trucks wizzing by me. The sky grew dark and I was running at night, my favorite time to run.

It was wonderful. The entire way was on a main road but, I was totally alone. Save for a few passers by, I didn't really have much in the way of human contact. I can be a bit of a loner when it comes to running. I don't like to run with a lot of people, very few in fact. There were people all around me but, none of them even took much notice of me.

Before long I had crossed the bridge into Wrightsville Beach and was headed another mile down the road to the beach. The beach at night is beautiful. Few people and, the waves crashing onto the shore in the moon light. It's an awesome place to be. I called my wife told her where I was and that I was okay and, would be headed back soon.

A few miles down the road I ran out of water but, was close enough to a Shell station that it didn't much matter. When the people saw me running in they stopped and stared. You'd have thought I was an alien the was they were looking at me. This town was supposed to be a "Fit Town 2006 - 2009", so I was sure they had seen people running out of the dark before. I'd passed many of them that night. But, I paid for my water and left. No one in line would come within a few feet of me and, the cashier didn't much care for the 2 dollar bills I had handed him soaked in sweat. Oh well, I thought, gotta be moving on.

That's kind of a metaphor for my life, I'm always moving or going somewhere. Never in one place for too long and, I kind of like it that way. But the next morning came and we were off to the Aquarium which minus a couple of things went fairly quick. My daughter loves Clown fish. "NEMO," she'd scream every time she saw one. After that it was out to lunch and then, back home. I was happy to be back and, promptly fell asleep in my bed. Because in the morning it was back to work.