Beach Running!

Headed out for my beach run yesterday. It was a beautiful day; sunny, clear blue skies, warm but with that wonderful cooling breeze that comes in off the Pacific - my idea of perfect. I generally wear shoes or flops to run to the sands' edge, then slip them off and carry them across the deep sand. Yesterday I wore my running shoes so I sat on the bike trail curb to take off shoes and socks, then I did my best to jog to the water. As I approached I saw that it was high tide. Hmmm. I had planned on a longish run, but I knew that the tide would slow me down. Why? Because when it's high tide the sand near the water's edge is not the wonderfully firm yet giving surface that I adore, but rather a squishy foot-enveloping terrain that makes me smile, but also makes me work really hard for every mile.

So, as I was navigating through this part of the run, my mind began to wonder. I decided my beach runs were like a box of chocolates. You just never knew what you were going to get. At that point I heard an acquaintance's voice in my head, telling me I should start checking the tide charts before my runs. This also brought a grin to my face, as I recalled being at someone's house who offered chocolates as an after-dinner treat. Only, they had cut each chocolate in half so no one would be surprised by what was hidden inside the creamy exterior. I guess some people aren't as inspired and entertained by surprise as I am. I love not having everything planned and living in a rather serendipitous manner whenever possible.

So, my mileage was not as long as I had planned yesterday, but I got a terrific workout in - just a bit different than I had planned. But, like a box of chocolates, that was one of the best parts about these runs, and what keeps me coming back for more.

So, here's to beach runs and boxes of chocolate. You get what you get - enjoy it for what it is!