stopping for a funeral at Greenwich cemetery

As I was doing my run yesterday I started to think about a runner’s etiquette.  Is there such a thing?  There must be and I’m willing to bet that most of us runners follow some kind of a runner’s etiquette or code of conduct even if we do not give it an actual name.  What I’m talking about is being polite and alerting a slower runner or walker that you’re coming up on them like say, “on your left”.  You know what I mean?

Well, I wondered about that as I ran up the very narrow two-lane Bonaventure Road in Thunderbolt/Savannah.  As I ran Bonaventure most of the incoming drivers slowed down and if possible gave me a wide berth as they passed by me.  I thought that was very cool of them.  They really did not have to give me a cushion of space to make me feel safe nor did they really need to slow down but they did.  So, I began to acknowledge their act of kindness by giving them a nod of my head and mouthing thank you.  I’m not sure if any drivers noticed me doing this but I did it any way.  It seemed to me the right thing to do on such a narrow, sparsely driven two-lane road that Saturday afternoon.  I don’t think I would be thanking every car that zooms past me on say, highway 80 at 5:00pm on weekday runs.  I would just grow tired from all that thanking and nodding.  And, I think most drivers on highway 80 on a weekday evening drive home are driving way too fast and are way too distracted on their phones and on thoughts of a nice candle-lit dinner with their honeys and catching on tv the next speaker on cspan than to notice some runner on the road, right?  Well, maybe not everyone is into cspan like me but I think you get what I mean, right?  It’s probably best to stay away or, be very, very careful when running on heavily trafficked streets.  What I’m talking about are the small, less traveled roads and drivers just being nice.

So, as I stated earlier, I began nodding and mouthing thank you’s to drivers that slowed down and gave me a nice cushion of space between their car and me.  What about the one’s that didn’t slow down nor give me a cushion of space?  I shot them the bird.  No.  I didn’t do that.  And, only one driver during my 11 mile run Saturday didn’t slow down nor give me a cushion of space as he past me.  I noticed this driver was about 100 years old and thought this guy probably doesn’t even know he’s driving.  So, why get bothered.  This is why we run against traffic and why we should always remain overly cautious as we run against traffic because not all drivers are kind and, not all drivers are on planet earth while driving – their minds could be a million miles away.

Any way, during my run on Bonaventure Road I resolved to nod and mouth thank you’s to every driver that showed me love.  I then ran into Greenwich cemetery and began to wonder if there is an  runner’s etiquette for funerals.  And guess what?  I came upon an ongoing funeral Saturday afternoon in Greenwich cemetery.  So, what did I do?  I’ll tell you what I wanted to do. I wanted to complete the leg of my Greenwich cemetery run that was past that funeral and then continue the rest of my pre-routed run through Greenwich cemetery and then head into Bonaventure cemetery and so on.  But, I didn’t.  My runner’s etiquette or morality kicked in and I stopped about a hundred feet from where the funeral was at and I bowed my head momentarily in respect.  I took a picture of the funeral for this blog and then turned around and ran a different route through the cemetery.  That seemed the right thing for me to do.  Was it?

As I continued my run I thought more about a runner’s etiquette and began putting together a mental list of one.  I’ll give you my list first and then I’ll post the list I found on the internets later.

Dan’s Runner’s Etiquette List

1. acknowledge and give thanks to drivers that show you kindness while running on the road.  If a driver slows down and gives you a wide berth between you and the car acknowledge that kind act by mouthing a thank you and nodding or by giving a peace sign.  I like the peace sign.  Just show gratitude, dude.
2. If you’re running in a cemetery and you come upon an ongoing funeral, stop.  Show some respect and turn around and find another path to run on.  Think about the difficult time that family and friends are going through at that moment.
3. Call out, don’t scream out, an “on your left” or an “on your right” as you come upon slower runners or walkers on a path.  You don’t want to give someone a heart attack any more than you want someone to give you one.
4. Don’t shoot a nostril full of snot before looking.  You would not want someone to blast your legs or brand new running shoes with a load of green mucus as you run past them.  Also, be mindful of ladies.  Just as most of us (guys) wouldn’t fart in front of a lady don’t shoot a wad of snot on the sidewalk in front of a lady.  That’s just bad manners.  Ask your mother about that.  Well, I do know a lot of guys that fart in front of women but I’m not one of those.  Every now and then, though, one does slip out.  Hm.  Let’s move along.
5. Share the running path and road with other runners.  The road nor the running path was made specifically for you.  Don’t hog the trail or slow down an approaching runner.  If someone is coming upon you while running  and you know they are carrying a faster clip than you are shift over a little if possible and let them get by.  It’s the sportsman thing to do.  When you get your second wind you can blaze past him, leaving him eating your dust. Right?  Right.
6. Always help out a runner in trouble/distress.  A PR is never worth the wellness/safety of a fellow runner…or, walker, cyclist, whoever.  If someone is in trouble as you run past them stop and see if you can assist them.  It’s the right thing to do.
7. I believe in doing the same thing for an injured or distressed animal you come upon while running (without endangering yourself, that is).  If you come upon an injured dog or cat or cow while running try to do something for the critter even if it means flagging down a car or running up to the nearest gas station and contacting the proper authorities.  No animal should be left to suffer on the side of a road if you come across one.  If you see a turtle trying to cross the road try to help it along but don’t endanger yourself.  Please don’t get run over by a car because you were trying to save a turtle.

Well, that’s about all that I could think of as I ran.  I’m sure other situations will pop up to make me reconsider or add to the list above.

Now, here is the runner’s etiquette list from Road Runner’s Club of America:

Rules of the road and trails

• Run against traffic if running on the road. If running on the sidewalk or multi-use trails, travel on the right and pass on the left.
• Never run more than two abreast if you are running in a group. Don’t be a road or trail hog.
• Don’t run down the middle of the road or trail.
• If you are running an out-and-back route, don’t just make a sudden u-turn at your turn around point. Stop, step to the right to allow oncoming traffic the opportunity to pass. Ensure the road or trail is clear of oncoming traffic (runners, cyclists, in-line skaters, etc.) then make your u-turn. Making a sudden u-turn without looking over your shoulder is a good way to get hit.
• Alert pedestrians when you are passing them – don’t assume they are aware of their surroundings. A simple “on your left” warning will suffice.
• Be alert on blind curves.
• Stop at stop signs and ensure oncoming traffic yields to you before proceeding across a road. Don’t assume cars will stop if you are entering a cross walk.
• Respect private property along your route. Don’t relieve yourself in the neighbor’s bushes.
• Don’t litter. If you can’t find a trash can, carry your trash home.

RRCA’s list is good.  I should of thought of some of those but I didn’t.  That’s why we have this group, right?  I agree whole-heartedly with RRCA’s list but still will incorporate my list above and append it to theirs.

As for the rest of my run on Saturday, I ran through Greenwich and Bonaventure cemeteries, ran over the Thunderbolt bridge and into and around Isle of Armstrong, ran to the Wilmington River and worked my way back to my home for an 11.14 mile run.  This was my final run with my legendary red bikilas.  My red bikilas have served me well for 705 miles and are now officially retired.  I have another blog that will be devoted entirely to a farewell to those vff’s.  So, stay tuned for that one.

my 11 mile mapped run

• run log
• mapped run
• total miles on red bikilas: 705.7
• total real miles for 2012: 69.23
• total treadmill miles: 15.83

Wildlife inventory:

• 2 seagulls
• 1 cormorant
• 1 vulture in Greenwich cemetery.  That was an ominous sign, I think.
• 5 doves
• 1 moth.  Yes, one moth flying about on January 28th!  It’s supposed to be winter, I thought.
• 3 squirrels
• 3 cats
• 10 dogs

Thank you so much for stopping by.

I wish you and yours the very, very best.

peace,

dh

01/29/2012

I saw this huge turkey while running my hood today. Happy Thanksgiving!

Today’s run almost did not happen.  I had threatened to run all day today but my body was aching from helping a friend move a bunch of furniture around her house yesterday evening.  I even hurt my knee while helping move a big filing cabinet.  So, today I was not sure if I should run or not.  In the end, though, the temperature was so nice and the urge to run was too great.  So, run, I did.  I ran 6.36 miles through my hood.  It was a beautiful run with a temperature of 73 degrees and humidity at 49%.

I ran out my front door, heading up Tennessee and then caught a right on Georgia Ave.  Georgia Ave took me to Bonaventure St. and that into Bonaventure cemetery.  I ran around Bonaventure, not forgetting to go through the “portal”.  I love Bonaventure cemetery.  It’s such a beautiful cemetery.  And now, with the holidays upon us every statue in the cemetery has a Santa hat and lots of candy canes hanging from their wings and swords.  It makes the cemetery feel so festive.   Just kidding.  Bonaventure cemetery is truly beautiful but I made up all that stuff about Santa hats and candy canes.

bonaventure cemetery gravestones and angel

From Bonaventure cemetery I ran to the Wilmington River pier and then ran the Thunderbolt Bridge and on my return followed Victory Drive to Starbucks on Victory and Skidaway.  I then worked my way home.

On my front steps I took a picture of one of my toes that popped out of my right red bikila.  These red bikilas of mine may very well be on their last foot.  Being who I am, I believe in squeezing blood out of a turnip.  So, I’ll try to get a few more miles out of them.  What say, we go for 700 miles on these suckers?  Hey, they’ve already logged 629 miles.  Getting close!

the 629 miled vff

Wildlife inventory:

• 2 dogs
• 1 cat
• a bunch of black birds in the trees above me when running through Fennel Street.
• As I crossed the Thunderbolt bridge I saw 6 large white birds flying high above me.  I couldn’t tell if they were great egrets or snowy egrets…so, you choose.
• 1 humongous turkey!  Biggest one I’ve ever seen!  I even got a picture of it!

toe hanging out of vff

So, tomorrow being Thanksgiving day, I have a lot to be thankful for.  Most of my family will be in town.  So, that makes me very happy.  Unfortunately, my oldest brother and his family could not make it down this year.  Next year, hopefully, I’ll see them.

Thanksgiving dinner and stuff is not until 4:00pm.  So, some time in the morning I’m going to squeeze out a 5 to 6 miler.  As I run through the city I will be tossing frozen turkeys to everyone around.  So, be out there tomorrow and catch the frozen turkey I hurl at you as i run a 7 minute mile!

thunderbolt bridge

• run log
• mapped run
• total miles on red bikilas: 629.51
• total days until the Savannah River Bridge Run 10k: 9 days

This weekend I’m going to run the bridge once or twice.  We’ll see how that works out.  No shopping for me on Friday, though.  Are you shopping on black friday?  Why?

at starbucks during run

Well, I think that’s about it for now.  Thank you so much for stopping by.

All the very best to you and yours.

Please have a very Happy and safe Thanksgiving!  Run a few miles for me.

peace,

dh

Since I started carrying a camera while running I’ve taken pictures of blue couches in the marsh, inquisitive minks on the rails to trails, buzz lightyear toy on the thunderbolt bridge, deer in ft. Pulaski, side-stepping crabs at the dairy farm, a chevy s10 truck stuck in the mud,  “portals” to other worlds in Bonaventure cemetery,  alligators and dolphins in the Savannah river, sunning turtles, box of cookies on the side of the road, confederate flag vendors, angry snakes, yada, yada, etc, etc.

So, the question is what picture do I begin with in this new adventure in blogging?

I think I will begin with a picture of one of my favorite places to run in Savannah, Bonaventure Cemetery, over in the Thunderbolt area.  The picture is of  my vff-clad foot and Jesus’ stone feet along with a nickel and some pennies on a wintry day, January 15, 2011.

These are Jesus' feet. He wears vff's.

It was a 6 mile run and I had lots of fun with this run…

Thanks for stopping by.

All the best to you and yours.

peace,

dh

08/31/2011

totally soaked after my 6.22 mile run

I didn’t get my 12 in today but I did run 6.22 miles.  It turned out to be a busy Sunday for me.  So, I didn’t have the time to squeeze in more than what I did.  That’s life, isn’t it?  Weekends go by way too fast.  I try to squeeze in so much during my weekends as possible and always run out of time for the really fun things like long runs in the sweltering heat of the low country.

The run that I did do was nice, though.  I started from my house after a pretty severe thunderstorm and followed my usual path to Bonaventure Road to Mechanics Ave to the Wilmington River and then turned around and back-tracked.  I popped into Bonaventure cemetery from the side gate by the small parking area off of Bonaventure Rd and then quickly exited through the Jewish entrance to the cemetery.  I hooked up with Greenwich Road and did a quick loop around Crest Dawn Memorial Garden over by Greenwich cemetery.  At this point it began to rain hard again.

mapped run

I left the cemeteries behind me and entered the dairy farm through my secret entrance off of Bonaventure road.  As I entered the df I noticed an suv that I quickly recognized and wondered why it was parked on the side of the trail in a pretty severe downpour.  I ran to the truck and looked inside but it was empty.  I became a bit concerned about the owner of this suv and decided to run deeper into the dairy farm and look for her.  As I entered the big sandy open area I saw the owner of the suv coming from the trail that leads to the prayer flags.  I ran up to her and asked if she was ok.  She said, yes.  She had been looking for her dog which she had not seen for four hours.  When we got within view of her truck I bid her farewell and took off running again.  Right in front of her suv I slipped on the slick trail and landed on my chest – SMOOTH!  I’m sure that made a nice impression.  I got up quickly and looked back at her.  I gave her a thumbs up that I was ok and ran away, totally embarrassed.  I could feel my face flush red.  Oh well, she knows me to be a doofus.

I left the dairy farm and ran home.  By the time I made it home I was no longer embarrassed of my idiotic fall in front of this attractive young lady.  I was just happy to be home and, very wet.

I took a quick shower and headed off to downtown Savannah for Savannah Christian Late Church at the old Lucas Theatre.

Oh, I had coffee with a great friend before church.  It was all good.

Wildlife Inventory:

• 20 doves
• 1 great egret
• 2 seagulls
• 2 mocking birds
• 1 city pigeon
• 2 cats
• 1 shrimp flopping on the Wilmington River pier
• 2 little fish also flopping on the Wilmington River pier (some guy pulled them up on a cast net)
• 1 dog
• 1 butterfly
• 1 gazillion fiddler crabs.  You know, I think there are more fiddler crabs in the dairy farm than there are humans on this planet.

I ran with my red bikilas today.  I know, I know.  I keep running with these red bikilas when I said that I never would again.  I just don’t know what to say about this.  It happens.

• mapped run
• run log
• total miles on red bikilas: 513.38

I’m back in the gym tomorrow and then another short run.  This coming Friday I have to squeeze in a long run.  I’m getting slack.  No rest for the slackers.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

All the very best to you and yours.

peace,

dh

08/14/2011

This morning, instead of sleeping in I roused myself, ate a yogurt, dressed up for my Memorial Day run and lightly jogged to the dairy farm with a handful of prayer flags (23 of them) for soldiers that have fallen in battle so that we may have freedom and peace in America.

I arrived at the dairy farm at 7:58am and waited until 8:05 in case someone was to join me for today’s run.  No one showed but a man walking his dogs.  So, at 8:05am, I started my run to commemorate the Georgia soldiers that have died serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It was an incredibly beautiful morning with birds in abundance chirping and flying about.  Squirrels were also out in abundance.  I counted 13 squirrels during the run.  It seemed ironic to be such a beautiful and perfect Memorial Day.

the dairy farm prayer flag project

I left the dairy farm and headed up Larkin to Maryland.  Maryland took me to Bonaventure Road.  I took a left, heading toward Bonaventure and Greenwich cemeteries.  I entered Greenwich cemetery first.  I had no music on.  As I ran through the cemeteries my eyes scanned the numerous tomb stones and the American flags that were scattered about here and there.  There was so much activity going on in the cemeteries but it was not human, – it was myriad species of birds, squirrels, insects.  The cemeteries were so lively with these critters.  The tombstones, silent testaments of human souls, lives come to an end slowly or abruptly.  Both young and old are buried in these cemeteries with histories dating back to the early 1800′s.

Greenwich cemetery

As I ran the cemeteries I thought of those 23 American lives that had ended in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I now carried with me prayer flags for each of those lives.  Normally, I am happy when I run but this morning as I ran on such a beautiful day I was sad.  Throughout the run I purposely stayed focused on what this run was about.  This run was about 23 soldiers, some way too young to be in this mix, that had died fighting in wars half-way across the world.  These twenty-two men and one woman died fighting for our country.  They died fighting for a belief they held dear, that the United States of America is a good country, imperfect as she may be, she is still a good country.  And, these soldiers answered their call of duty and paid with their lives that America may continue to improve and, to be free and to be good.

Forest Lawn cemetery

As I exited the cemeteries and headed back to the dairy farm my heart felt empty and broken.

I entered the dairy farm and ran to where the prayer flags are at.  The run to the prayer flags was pleasant.  As always, coming upon the prayer flags is moving.

As I hung each prayer flag I read them with terrible sadness in my heart.

1. PFC Austin G. Staggs; born 01/11/1991, died 11/29/2010
2. Staff Sgt. Cynthia R. Taylor; born 1972, died 04/16/2011
3. Spc. Gary L. Nelson; born 01/23/1991, died 04/05/2011
4. Maj. Wesley J. Hinkley; born 02/19/1975, died 04/04/2011
5. First Lt. Scott Fleming; born 04/03/1986, died 09/17/2010
6. Lance Cpl. Christopher Rodgers; born 05/04/1990, died 09/01/2010
7. Lance Cpl. William Richards; born 01/31/1990, died 06/26/2010
8. Lance Cpl/ Joseph R. Giese; born 09/17/1986, died 01/07/2011
9. Lance Cpl. Raymon Johnson; born 08/29/1988, died 10/13/2010
10. Cpl. Stephen Sockalosky; born 02/12/1989, died 10/06/2010
11. Sgt. Jonathan Peney; born 07/01/1987, died 06/01/2010
12. Sgt.  David Holmes; born 1976, died 06/26/2010
13. Sgt.  Johnny Lumpkin; born 11/30/1971, died 07/02/2010
14. Chief Petty Officer Patrick L Wade; born 1969, died 07/17/2007
15. Staff Sgt. Sheldon Tate; born 09/18/1982, died 07/13/2010
16. Pfc. Jacob Dennis; born 07/28/1987, died 07/03/2010
17. Sgt. 1st Class Edgar Roberts; born 01/16/1971, died 08/17/2010
18. Spc. Shannon Chihuahua; born 05/10/1985, died 11/11/2010
19. Spc. Chad Coleman; born 03/15/1990, died 08/27/2010
20. Sr. Airman Michael Buras; born 07/28/1987, died 09/21/2010
21. Pvt. Jeremy P. Faulkner; born 05/05/1987, died 03/29/2011
22. Sgt. Brandon S. Hocking; born 04/03/1985, died 03/21/2011
23. Senior Chief Petty Officer David McLendon; born 11/29/1979, died 09/21/2010

Bonaventure cemetery

Today’s run was very special to me.  Today’s run was to honor those that fell so that I may continue to live freely and safely in America.  I never knew any of these brave soldiers yet they have touched my heart and my life in the most profound way.

When I gripe about hurting calves and ill-timed traffic lights on Abercorn there are thousands of American soldiers fighting in wars never knowing whether they will die of old age on American soil or brutally and abruptly in hostile lands.  And, whether we want to admit it or not,  they are fighting for our rights to be free and to be heard.  Most of the soldiers listed above are no older than most of the students that to go to SCAD, where I work.

Each prayer flag I hung today in honor of fallen heroes broke my heart as it should have.  We must remember them.

I saw this magnolia tree flower in Greenwich cemetery

Wildlife Inventory:

• 13 squirrels
• 1 great egret
• 1 snowy egret
• 4 woodpeckers
• 2 butterflies: 1 orange-winged, 1 black-winged
• 16 doves
• 7 grackles
• 2 blue jays
• 1 moth
• 1 pelican
• 1 red-tailed hawk
• 1 vulture
• 2 carolina wrens
• 1 red cardinal
• 2 fiddler crabs
• 2 green herons
• 1 ant
• 10 dogs
• 8 mocking birds
• 1 cat

Today’s run turned out to be 8.19 miles.

• running log
• mapped run
• total miles on red bikilas: 398.51

Many thanks for stopping by.

All the very best to you and yours.

To our soldiers, thank you for what you do.

peace,

dh

05/30/2011

Monday, 5:34pm

On Memorial Day at 8:00am I will be doing a special run.  I will begin the run at the Dairy Farm and run to Greenwich and Bonaventure Cemeteries.  I’ll do a loop through those cemeteries and then run back into the Dairy Farm where I will hang a prayer flag for each soldier listed below that has recently died protecting our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The prayer flags will be hung at the area of the dairy farm known as “the point” where the prayer flag project is.

These soldiers gave all they had so that we could continue living in luxury and freedom.  They all died too young.

My heart goes out to their families.

Remembering our fallen heroes:

• Sgt David Holmes
• Sr. Airman Michael Buras
• Sgt. Jonathan Peney
• Sgt.  Johnny Lumpkin
• Pfc. Jacob Dennis
• Staff Sgt. Sheldon Tate
• Sgt. 1st Class Edgar Roberts
• Spc. Chad Coleman
• Spc. Shannon Chihuahua
• Pfc. Austin Staggs
• Sgt. Brandon S. Hocking
• Pvt. Jeremy P. Faulkner
• Maj. Wesley J. Hinkley
• Spc. Gary L. Nelson
• Staff Sgt. Cynthia R. Taylor
• Lance Cpl. William Richards
• Lance Cpl. Christopher Rodgers
• First Lt. Scott Fleming
• Cpl. Stephen Sockalosky
• Lance Cpl. Raymon Johnson
• Lance Cpl/ Joseph R. Giese
• Senior Chief Petty Officer David McLendon

Thank you for fighting and sacrificing that we may be free.

The run will be 6.23 miles.

• Online map of run

If you would like to join me on this run please contact me by email (dlh14255@gmail.com) or meet me at the dairy farm by 8:00am on Monday, 05/30/2011.

“Each of these heroes stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase in its blessings.”
– Franklin Delano Roosevelt

the map of the Memorial Day Run. Click on it for larger picture

Thanks for stopping.

All the very best to you and yours.

peace,

dh

05/29/2011

the bonaventure cemetery portal

The center part of the balls of my feet are really hurting bad when I run.  I ran 5.57 miles this afternoon.  Within a mile of the run both feet began to ache tremendously.

That center part of the balls of my feet is very sore and tender.  It’s like a callous is building in the center of both of the balls of my feet.  I’ve actually grinded down both using one of those funny looking rocks you buy in the foot and beauty section of Target.  I forced myself to finish the 5 and a half miles but I cannot continue doing this much longer.  Is there a remedy for this other than stop running or have my feet replaced?

Despite the discomfort of my feet I enjoyed today’s run.  It was another nice and nasty hot day to run.  The temperature at the end of the run was 91 degrees with humidity at 48%.  I ran from my house to Greenwich and Bonaventure cemeteries.  When I exited Bonaventure cemetery I slipped into the dairy farm via a break in the fence by the canal adjacent to the cemetery.  Don’t tell anyone I did that.  I think it might be illegal to enter the dairy farm through that part.

bonaventure cemetery

I stopped at the Bonaventure cemetery Portal for a few minutes and had my picture taken.  As I walked through the portal the world suddenly changed into an apocalyptic world where zombies could out-sprint their prey (us living humans).  In that world the zombies would begin eating people feet first.  It was scary and gross.

A fast moving, ill-tempered zombie began to chase me!  As I dove through the portal I suddenly felt a cold strong grip grasp my left bikila-clad foot.  I yelled in terror and with my right bikila-clad foot I smashed my heel against that ill-tempered zombie’s nose.  It shrieked in pain!  Suddenly, I was back in my wonderful world.  I got to my feet and triumphantly took the picture at the top.  I threw my head back and laughed heartily into the sky.  I suddenly went flying back into the statue of Jesus with the wind knocked out of me.

“What the heck!” I cried out!  Some how, that nasty-old zombie had managed to enter our world!  I knew that if I did not destroy this zombie I would put our happy little world in peril.  All it takes is one bite and you’re infected with the zombie virus.  I could not let that happen to earth!  So, I punched the zombie in the nose and he fell backwards and smashed his head against a tomb stone.  Just to be sure he was dead-dead, though, I grabbed the zombie by the feet and swung his body against the statue of Jesus, smashing his brains at the feet Jesus.

Just to be on the safe side I grabbed a bunch of rocks and shoved them down the zombie’s throat and threw his body into the cold, dark depths of the Wilmington River, never to rise again.

I continued my run.

Holy vff

Wildlife Inventory:

• 1 squirrel
• 1 blue jay
• 1 dragon fly
• 1 red tailed hawk
• 2 red cardinals: 1 male, 1 female
• 2 doves
• 2 grackles

On a serious note, on Memorial Day I am going to learn of a local soldier that has fallen in these recent wars and will run in his honor, giving thanks for his sacrifice for my freedom.  I hope this will be a good way of honoring our fallen heroes.

• my mapped run
• my running log
• total miles on bikilas:361.4

This Memorial Day let's not forget the sacrifices they made for our freedom

Ok, many thanks for stopping by.

All the very best to you and yours.

peace,

dh

PS: I need new feet

05/21/2011

Sunday, 9:30pm

the thunderbolt bridge view from isle of armstrong

I had a very pleasant 7.24 mile run this evening after work.  It was awesome.  It was just me, the road, chirping birds and a ton of traffic on highway 80 and Victory.  Several people honked their horns as they drove past me and I flipped them the bird.  Life is good.  I really didn’t flip anyone off.  It’s not my style.  I threw rocks at them and then jumped off the Thunderbolt bridge and into the Wilmington River and swam away fast..;)

I started the run in front of my house (as usual) but changed the course ever so slightly (from my usual course).  I ran up Wessels and instead of hanging a louie on Bonaventure Road (as I usually do) I crossed it, and kept running up.  Take a guess where I stopped for my now ritualistic few minutes stretch after five minutes of running?  Give up?  I stopped on Wessels and 41st and stretched for a few minutes.  It was a nice corner to stop at.  Hardly any traffic.  There’s a nice oak tree nearby and a fire hydrant within arms reach.  Just what you’re looking for on a street corner.

From the corner of Wessels and 41st I continued up and then turned left on 43rd.  I followed 43rd street to Downing and then caught Victory until it offically became highway 80 and then cruised up the Thunderbolt bridge and ran into and around Isle of Armstrong.  I saw lots of fiddler crabs there and, a dead, squashed snake (the same one I saw a couple of days ago).  The snake now looks like a fancy belt.  It’s still out there if you want it.  I’m sure after cleaning it up some it would make a nice Happy Father’s day gift.

I ran to the eastern shore of the Wilmington river and then cruised back over the Thunderbolt bridge and ran to the western shore of the Wilmington River.  Did another quick stretch atop of the bridge and kept on running.  It was nice.

I hopped onto Bonaventure Road and followed that to Wessels and turned right, ran around the round about and took it home.  Mr. Gypsy was happy to see me and I was happy to see him.

a stretch atop of the thunderbolt bridge

Wildlife Inventory:

• 12 doves
• 13 grackles
• 4 cats
• 5 dogs
• 3 cardinals: 2 males, 1 female
• 1 pigeon
• 1 great egret
• 9 mocking birds
• 1 million fiddler crabs
• 3 sparrows
• 5 squirrels
• 1 dead squashed snake on highway 80

this cool tree had these viny flowering plants growing up it. I had to stop momentarily and snap this picture. It was beautiful

My intention was to run 6 miles today but after seeing that my friend, Tim Waz, squeezed out 8 miles today I said oh what the heck, I’ll do 7.  It’s a good…odd number.  And, it’s a lucky number at that.  So, after the run, and saying howdy to Mr. Gypsy I jumped in my car & cruised to Publix where I loaded up on much needed supplies and before I left the store I bought two lottery tickets, one mega million and one powerball.  I’m pretty sure I’m going to win both because I ran those 7 lucky miles today.  What should I do with the winnings?  Well, first things first, – I’m buying a new pair of bikilas – one pair for me and one pair for Mr. Gypsy.  I’ll buy two pairs for Mr. Gypsy.  I almost forgot that he has four legs.

So, how do I feel, you ask?  I feel good.  My calves feel good, strong and healthy.  Tomorrow, after work I’ll squeeze out a four miler and then go partying in downtown Savannah.  That is so not me.  I’ll do the four miler, eat something, shower and then play it by ear.  I think I may want to go to Forsyth Park tomorrow evening and listen to the Lt. Dan band.  They’re performing for free at the park.  How cool is that?  Very!

• my running log
• my mapped run
• total mileage on bikilas: 225.11

Ok, thanks for stopping by.

All the best to you and yours.

peace,

dh

04/21/2011

Thursday

Ran past Bonaventure cemetery, as usual

The Wilmington River from Thunderbolt Bridge

Since returning from Africa my running has slacked big time.  This past Friday I got out of work too late and couldn’t get a run in.  Saturday, I had so much to do and the day flew by.  Today, I managed to squeeze in a 10.31 mile run but it was an uncomfortable run unfortunately.

For the first three miles of the run I battled a stitch on my left side.  I drank lots of water and took deep breaths and still the stitch dug itself in deeper and spread wider.  Finally, it went away after I had crossed the Thunderbolt bridge and was approaching Despositos.  You know, I need to stop by there one day and have a bite to eat.  Have you eaten there before?  I run by it so many times and always make a mental note to stop by and try this place out when not running but never do stop by.  Any way, that’s a different story.  My stitch disappeared and that was good.

my 10.31 mile mapped run

After running the few roads on Isle of Armstrong I jumped onto the other side of Highway 80, crossed the Thunderbolt bridge again and ran toward and past Tubby’s.  It was about the time that I was passing up Tubby’s that I began to feel an fiery irritation on the ball of my left foot.  Shortly after that I began to feel another fiery irritation on tip of my middle toe on my right foot.  Of course, I knew the cause of this was the friction between my skin and my bikilas and, knew this was going to mean blisters.  Being the glutton for punishment that I am I refused to stop or slow down.  Today, I was going to run 10 miles regardless.  So, nor stitch nor blisters were going to prevent me from accomplishing my task.

this sign caught my eye as I was running today

I followed River Drive around the curve and onto Whatley.  Whatley took me back over Victory and onto Bonaventure Road.  No run through Thunderbolt on a beautiful sunny Sunday is complete without taking a detour into Bonaventure Cemetery for a stroll through there.  So, there I went into Bonaventure Cemetery with a blistering, aching left foot and middle toe.  I instinctly headed toward the back of Bonaventure Cemetery toward the “portal”.  I knew that if I reached the “portal” I could go through it and be momentarily transported to a world where my blisters could be healed.  I could take the time to explain the “portal” healing bit but it’s just a bit complex.  It has to do with molecular deconstruction and then reconstruction and in that process the healing is capable because my dna and stuff has a back up of me without blisters.  Like I said it is very complex science.  So, I won’t bore you with the details.

the bonaventure cemetery portal with the love-struck hooligans and their photographer

I ran to the “portal” and almost threw up!  There was a photo shoot going on with the portal!  Can you believe it!  Of all the times to do a photo shoot these people pick this Sunday, when I have blisters that need healing!  This was the cherry on top.  It was like a romantic photo shoot-thing.  There were these two young lovers acting all lovey-dovie with one another as this female photographer would say, “that’s nice” and take pictures.  I wanted to kick them out of the way.  Every time I run in Bonaventure Cemetery I always go through the portal and now I cannot because these love-struck hooligans are sitting at the doorway to the portal.  I maintained my composure, cursing under my breath as I hobbled away in agonizing pain.  These people prevented me from getting healed.  Oh well.  Life does go on.

Wildlife Inventory:

• 1 robin
• 4 mocking birds
• 12 fiddler crabs
• 8 seagulls
• 1 carolina wren
• 18 pigeons
• 5 squirrels
• 2 doves
• 3 dogs
• 3 great egrets
• 11 grackles
• 1 black winged butterfly
• 1 sparrow
• 1 vulture

I left Bonaventure cemetery and headed into Greenwich Cemetery momentarily.  After exiting the cemeteries I ran up Bonaventure, caught a few of the state streets and ended my run in front of my house.

my feet and vff's after my run on my doorsteps

I sat on the front steps of my house, took off my bikilas and played around with the blisters on my feet for a few minutes.  My cat, Texas, came up to me and I scratched her behind the ear before going inside the house, straight for the shower.

• my running log
• my mapped run
• total mileage in bikilas: 174.01

What’s next?  I’m going to put some moleskin over my blisters and run a few miles tomorrow.  Hopefully, that will help.  I really am wondering if I’ve worn out my bikilas.  The thing is, I’ve only logged 174.1 miles on them.  They should be able to handle more than 174 miles before retiring, right?  I would think so.  I think, perhaps, the problem is that its getting warmer and my foot is sweating more and this could be the reason I’m beginning to experience a few problems with my bikilas and blisters.  That seems to make some kind of sense to me.  Maybe, my feet mutated into mountain goat feet while I was climbing Kilimanjaro.  That’s another explanation as to why I’ve experienced a few problems with my bikilas recently.  I don’t know.

my dirty vff and blooming azaleas in my front yard

Any way, aside from the nagging stitch for the first three miles and the blisters for the remainder of the run, I enjoyed this run pretty much – at least until I reached the portal and was assaulted with this horrific act of love-struck affection.  Oh well, that’s life.  And, life is good.

Thanks for stopping by.

All the best to you and yours.

peace,

dh

04/03/2011

Running in Bonaventure Cemetery

Well, so much for my 12 mile run today.  Instead of 12, I ran 7.17 miles.  There was no particular reason why I decided to ditch the original plan of 12 and settled on 7.  I just ran until I didn’t feel like running any longer.  Is that bizarre?  I don’t know.  Any way, I only ran 7.17 miles and it was fun and unpainful…well, it was painful a couple of times.

Either my feet have gotten incredibly sensitive in the last couple of weeks or my bikilas bottoms are severely wearing out.  I seem to feel every dang rock I stepped on.  One time I landed on this pyramid shaped rock in Bonaventure cemetery immediately grabbed my left bikila clad foot while hopping on my right and saying, “oooh oooh oooh!” very loudly!   I’m telling you, stepping on that rock hurt!  Man!  I hope no one saw me hopping around on one foot while holding on to my other foot.  Ahh, I don’t care.  My foot was hurting.  Dang!  Any way, something’s up with my feet or with my bikilas.  Maybe, it’s both.  I don’t know.  It sucks big time, though.  I’ve only logged about 160 miles on my bikilas.  They cannot be worn out with that little mileage, right?  Hm.

my 7.17 mile mapped run

Well, my run today was again, through my side of town.  I left out my front door, ran up some street to Bonaventure road.  I followed Bonaventure Road into Bonaventure cemetery and weaved in and out of the different paths there, not forgetting to go through the portal.  Every time I run in Bonaventure cemetery I have to run through the portal.  This time when I ran through the portal I was momentarily transported to a world filled with naked women wearing vff’s.  They all drank Corona Light beer and liked to climb mountains.  I went brown trout fishing with three of them.  It was fun.  We then watched the “King’s speech” together and laughed the whole time.  Suddenly, I found myself back in Bonaventure cemetery with three minutes subtracted from my overall run time.  Not bad…

bikilas and azaleas

After Bonaventure cemetery I ran to the back Greenwich cemetery.  As I ran running back there I saw the prayer flag project in the dairy farm.  I was amazed at how clearly you could see all of the prayer flags.  There are so many out there now!  My last count was 736 prayer flags!  That’s a lot of prayers!  That’s a lot of flags!

When I exited the cemeteries I ran up Bonaventure road toward Victory drive and slid into that undeveloped section where the canal that runs through Thunderbolt is.  Again, I stepped on several rocks that sent jarring pain to the tips of my ears!  This time, I didn’t say, “oooh oooh oooh!”   I said, “$&^!”  a bunch of times.  Don’t worry I repented for cursing so much.  Dang, rocks suck!

pretty place to be buried in

Finally, I began to work my way home.  When I pulled up to my front door it began to rain pretty hard and my cat Texas came up to me and began loving on me.  I picked her up, unlocked the front door, walked in, tossed the cat to my dog, locked the door, opened up a Corona Light and started typing away.  We all lived happily ever after.  The end.

Wildlife inventory:

• 14 dogs
• 3 cats
• 8 great egrets
• 3 snowy egrets
• 3 little brownish birds
• 6 dragon flies
• 5 black-winged butterflies
• 4 mid-sized brown birds
• 1 vulture

dogwoods and spanish moss

I forgot to mention, running through Bonaventure cemetery was a treat.  The azaleas and dog woods are still in bloom.  The cemetery, in full bloom, was quite a beautiful spectacle to behold.  Get there soon if you want to catch Bonaventure at it’s most beautiful.

• my running log
• my mapped run
• total mileage on bikilas: 159.27

Ok, that’s it for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

the bonaventure cemetery portal

Remember, I’m still updating my blog regarding my Kilimanjaro trip.  I wrapped up the 5th day yesterday.  So, some time this evening I’ll get the sixth day updated on my blog.  The total trip I’m cataloging is 8 fun filled days (it’s kind of like Hanukkah but not really).

All the best to you and yours.

peace,

dh

03/26/2011

Saturday