Watched (Update 1)

As I approach the pedestrian gate, I notice a second camera aimed at me.  Like the first, it protrudes from the wall, but points in the opposite direction.  An inner bronze ring, reflected from the disappearing sunset, surrounds the dark eye of the camera.

The Book Corner

Although I’m not a huge book worm, chapters four through ten of Ultramarathon Man gives me enough mental pep to want to run until I fall flat on my face.  I find it fascinating to read about someone who pushes themselves to extremes and what happens when they do.

Personally, I consider a long run nine miles.  This will change in the Fall when I increase that to 20 miles.  However, I am reading about someone who:

• Runs all night long, stopping by a Taco Bell to refuel or phoning for a pizza delivery at an intersection.
• Stops at an aid station to have his blisters lanced and filled with Krazy Glue.
• Runs a marathon to the South Pole, tucking three heating pads in each shoe to keep his feet warm.

The simplicity and non-materialism of running are spoken of which I’m familiar with, but there are plenty of things discussed that I was not aware of.  Beginning with one extreme, the book logically climbs to another extreme of increasing difficulty of his experiences with the following races:

• A 50 mile race.
• Western States 100 mile race.
• Badwater.
• A marathon to the South Pole.

My interest falters after his 100 mile race as things begin to become repetitive, but it is recaptured at chapter 14 when Dean runs 199 mile relay race by himself.

Nothing

Jokingly she concludes, “Oh, so you do do nothing all day!”  She steps away from the table.

“She doesn’t know?”

“Know what?” I ask.

“About your hobby.”

I reply, “No.”

Ground Level

A heat wave rolls in this weekend.  Personnel outside are drenched in sweat early this morning.  I wonder how they do it.

Escaping to a local air conditioned bookstore, I type in a keyword marathon into the computer terminal and press enter.  Five or six books appear, I press on a title with my finger and see a show map button.

These books are not located in the Health section but reside in Sports, across the aisle from the Logic Puzzle and Sudoku books.  Treated windows overlook the parking lot and a lone road that leads nowhere.  A developer and a local utilities company are debating on who is responsible for installing utilities along a closed segment of connecting road.

Turning my attention to the shelf of books, guns and soccer hold eye level positions.  My eyes scan downward looking for the letter R.  Sorted Alphabetically by Sport. Running books occupy two shelves, and I take a seat on the floor to look at them.

Yes, my friends, running is that low on the totem pole.

Among the training guides, I laugh at some of the book titles.  Others cause me to stop and pull the book from the shelf to get a closer look at it.  I do find what I am looking for and take another with me for entertainment value.

Watched

After letting the pedestrain gate slam shut, I notice a camera aimed at me.  It’s one of those small black cameras that you notice when driving up to an ATM; however, this one has a ring of white unlit LED lights around it.  It protrudes from the entrance wall and points at the sidewalk.

That wasn’t there yesterday.