A Run-Walk in the Park
Went for a run-walk yesterday. I'm becoming familiar enough with my new surroundings to identify some running routes that could become faves, not to mention finding the best routes for crossing the Mississippi-River-sized boulevards of Wilshire, Santa Monica, Westwood, and Sepulveda.
Yesterday I made my second daylight foray into Westwood Park (I've been by it several times before in the dark and found it not so inviting). It's a fairly small park, but getting to it plus running around it plus running back is good for almost three miles.
My run would have been more edifying if my right ankle hadn't started hurting for no apparent reason. After 34-plus years of running, I've sometimes thought that I must have experienced pain in every body part where pain is possible. Not so, evidently. This time it feels like I have a slight sprain on the outside part of the ankle, just between the ankle bone and top of the heel.
It may be a stretch, but I have a feeling it's related to the chronic tightness in my glutes and piriformis muscles, which has hobbled me on and off for more than a year. When I came home and foam-rolled and tennis-balled the muscles in question, I swear the ankle felt better. (Yes, "foam-roll" and "tennis-ball" are verbs. Is there a problem with that?)
At any rate, I didn't let the latest bolt out of the blue taint my appreciation for Westwood Park in daylight. It was teeming with life--tennis players, soccer players, tots in swings, homeless snoozers on the grass, plus a gimpy runner (me).
Yesterday I made my second daylight foray into Westwood Park (I've been by it several times before in the dark and found it not so inviting). It's a fairly small park, but getting to it plus running around it plus running back is good for almost three miles.
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| Especially like the wall with words and illustrations from The Carrot Seed, a book I remember from my childhood. It's a fine read, with its themes of faith and optimism and its illustrations both chunky and charming. Can't wait to take Calvin to the park and read this wall with him! |
My run would have been more edifying if my right ankle hadn't started hurting for no apparent reason. After 34-plus years of running, I've sometimes thought that I must have experienced pain in every body part where pain is possible. Not so, evidently. This time it feels like I have a slight sprain on the outside part of the ankle, just between the ankle bone and top of the heel.
It may be a stretch, but I have a feeling it's related to the chronic tightness in my glutes and piriformis muscles, which has hobbled me on and off for more than a year. When I came home and foam-rolled and tennis-balled the muscles in question, I swear the ankle felt better. (Yes, "foam-roll" and "tennis-ball" are verbs. Is there a problem with that?)
At any rate, I didn't let the latest bolt out of the blue taint my appreciation for Westwood Park in daylight. It was teeming with life--tennis players, soccer players, tots in swings, homeless snoozers on the grass, plus a gimpy runner (me).
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