The Bearded Runner

I have decided to grow a beard.

Not the Salma Hayek I-shaved-my-face-so-I-can-grow-a-moustache kind for her role in Frida.

Although, kudos to her for taking the role so seriously.  But bummer she has to wax her lip for the rest of her life.

No, I'm talking a bona fide, full-on Grizzly Adams beard.

I just wanted you to know.

Second topic, I completed my 8 mile run today.  Outside.  Remember my "rant" about no sunshine in Madison in months?  How I was begging for decent temps and a ray of sunshine for my run today?

Well, Madison made me proud.

See that sunshine?  That beautiful, amazing sunshine?  Wow.

To honor this perfect day, I also took a moment and just soaked it in...with my very own "Sun Pose"/thank you salutation.

I miraculously finished 8 miles, although it was a bit of a struggle fitness-wise.  I walked a bit to catch my breath.  My rib cage is sore after WTF class yesterday.  Much more sore than I anticipated.  I stuck with it though, and it was worth it.  I did a lot of good thinking on this run, and I almost caught a glimpse of the 'old' me...almost.

You may now be wondering - what's the deal with the beard?  Well, the two topics are related, I promise.

In typical Madison style, there were a lot of people out today.  It was 29 degrees, but I spotted a lot of runners on the arboretum course.  All of them men.  All of them with beards.

I was wearing the turtle fur you see above...however during my running I had it up over my mouth and nose to protect my face from the cold, harsh air.

The men?  No turtle fur.

I had to rotate the turtle fur every mile or so to move the wet icky area away from my face and start fresh.

The men?  Still donning the same beard.

I have decided in the entirety of all things unfair between men and women...the beard as a protective face layer in the elements is my current fixation.

I want one.  Just when I run.  And maybe occasionally in those rare moments where I am contemplating life so I can scratch it while I look out into the distance and seem even more philosophical...

I guess I will simply settle for 2 things that made me happy today:  Sunshine and 8 miles.