Friday around the pond

COVID-19, “ The Rona Era”

Today is my first Friday back in Boston. This is the last weekend to work on getting classes ready for Spring semester which starts next week. The first two weeks will be remote learning and then face to face. Ugh, I’m so not ready. But I don’t have a choice in the matter. I do have a choice in where I’m running this morning. I decided to run a loop around Horn Pond. The temperature is still in the 30s but we are expecting to get a freeze on Saturday. Winter in New England.

At 6a.m. when I arrived at Horn Pond it was really dark. I’m glad I had my headlight. It was dark and I did not see a single soul. I paused and question my choice of running this morning. I didn’t have my pepper gel and my ID road bracelet got swept away in Puerto Rico. I was hear and I was going to move forward.

Parts of the pond looked solid frozen. I was not brave or crazy enough to see how solid the ice was. It looked welcoming and haunting at the same time. The only light that was shining was my headlight. I kept on running. It was quiet and beautiful. To my surprise I felt relaxed. I wasn’t worried about some animal or strange stalker coming after me in the woods….I know, crazy mind. The snow, the trees, the pond, and nice calm weather.

I did get a bit tired. I think I need more energy, better fueling before running( so noted). Otherwise I felt good. After a mile or so, I did see light. There was a man walking with his flashlight and he said Hi to me as he passed by. Then there was the man walking his dog. The dog had a lighted collar around him. I still felt safe and comfortable while running.

As daylight started to come, I did see one guy running and a group of three women running. All of these folks didn’t have on a headlight or any reflective gear. I find that so curious and distributing, especially the ladies running. Maybe they felt comfortable because they were running in a group but still, it was dark outside.

I finished my loop, 2.03 miles. As I walked to my car, I saw part of a dollar that was broken off and frozen in the ground. If only it wasn’t broken off. Hopefully that means good luck?

This is how Friday started.