Avenues

Run: 8.4 miles in 1:06:05 min. @ 4:00 p.m.
Pace: 7:52 min./per mile avg.

Weather: Cloudy, 73°F, 64% Humidity, Winds: From S @ 8 mph; feels like 73°F
Course: A tour of aves: Monroe Ave. to Park Ave. past East Ave. to University Ave. which turns into Atlantic Ave. until a right away from the “avenues” and onto Winton Rd. eventually back onto Highland Avenue past Cobbs Hills Park and straight on home…

Sometimes while running I forget where I am and I come across ghosts... today while cruising through the city streets during the heart of rush hour, I made my way past a few basketball courts and down into a darkened underpass. At the other end coming towards me I noticed that someone else was also entering the half-block-long underpass. Assuming he had seen me running down the narrow walkway, I continued toward him huffing and puffing--suddenly he appeared to be startled into recognition that someone (me!) was there with him, he jumped in a startled motion and raised his clenched fists as if to defend himself.

While running I had neglected to consider that maybe I shouldn't be in this semi-secluded section of a "rough" neighborhood running by myself in a darkened underpass... perhaps this lad had the same thought, too. While he stood there momentarily, startled into inaction, a slid to his right and offered an "excuse me" as I continued on my way.

The remainder of my run I thought about this neighborhood and community that I have been part of my entire life and the , what I realized later, was a young man who in my memeories reminded me of my brother. My brother and I grew up in this neighborhood as it was "changing" (whatever that means) we he, too, would travel around oblivious to his surroundings... much like me otday, I suppose. I reckon the bottom line is that we are all connected somehow, if one looks deeply enough.

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!