Running

I run. 

 

I've been doing it now for over 30 years.  I'm not an expert runner – never have been.  I haven't won any races and don't expect to anytime soon.  I used to be pretty fast, though I know "pretty fast" is a relative term.  In law school I lived near Cleveland Circle in Brighton, just outside Boston.  There was a loop around the reservoir that was 2 miles long.  A bank had a large digital clock near the loop that you could see when running.  I remember being able to run twice around the loop in under 22 minutes (according to the digital clock).  I estimate that I was running 5 ½ minute miles. 

 

For "regular" runners, that's pretty fast.  But that was many years ago -- when I'm in good running shape today, I'm thankful to run 3 miles in 22 minutes.

 

But as I said, I'm not an expert and am not in training for a marathon (I've run 3 marathons thank you very much, and probably hundreds of shorter races.)  I just run to keep in shape and for the pleasure of running.  And yes, I have had both knees scoped.

 

Anyway, I was doing a 5 mile run this morning and another runner was running toward me with that goofy way of running where he is waving his arms all over the place, and his wrists are limp, and it's like his fingers are weightless and are waving in the breeze.  I hate folks who run that way.  It's just not exactly what I'd call, err, masculine. 

 

I probably shouldn't judge folks on running form.  I tend to keep my arms close to my waist and clench my fists too tight.  I think of myself as a train chugging along, mile after mile – though I had someone tell me many years ago that I look like I'm sweeping a street when I run.  Then again, the guy that said it probably got winded getting out of his Lazy-Boy. 

 

I wonder if guys that run in that limp-wristed way ever know it?  I can't imagine they do.

 

It's surprising the number of guys who run that way.  You see them on TV or in the movies fairly often.  Harrison Ford runs like a sissy boy.  Take a look at him running in the movie Return of the Jedi – you know, the one with the ewoks.  When they blow up the rebel base at the end of the movie and he comes out shouting, "move it, move it" or something like that – it's hilarious.  I mean really.  Indiana Jones it ain't.

 

Another guy who looks like a sally when he runs is Steven Seagal – but don't tell him I said so.  As I mentioned, I don't run as fast as I used to and if he catches me in that girly running style of his, he's going to seriously whoop my ass with that martial arts crap.