100 Degrees

I have a new mattress. This means that getting up at 4:45 in the morning to go run before I go to work requires an incredible amount of will power. Which is why I slept in this morning (and by sleep in, I mean I woke up at 5:15AM, as per usual). Because besides it being difficult to get out of bed that early, it's also difficult to summon the aforementioned necessary will power to overcome the difficulty of getting out of bed at such an ungodly hour.

While at work, I heard rumors of it being "the hottest day ever!" and saw multiple people order espresso milkshakes and pink lemonades. Now, I'm no mathematical genius, but I was able put two and two together to figure out that I should have gotten my bones out of bed and run before work. Because for the rest of the day, I had to gulp quarts of water while simultaneously dreading seeing those quarts of water drip into my eyes later on. Did I mention the fact that I work in a kitchen that typically feels ten degrees hotter than whatever the temperature it is outside?

So now I'm not sure what's more challenging; fighting the sleep guy (what's his name? all the sudden I can't remember. There's a song...but I can't place it) and getting into gear before the sun comes up, or waiting until after work, watching the hours chug away while I sugar coat the world, only to step out at three or four and feel the ultraviolet rays poison my skin?

I was already halfway dressed for a run. I find this helps because there's no excuse to take your running shorts/shoes/elbow pads off if you didn't even run. So I ran. And it was hot. And here I sit, thinking that it wasn't actually that bad.

But it's days like these that make me really appreciate the change of season in this super duper state. Here's why:

-Running in pristine 60-degree-partly-sunny-but-with-nice-fluffly-clouds weather makes you feel like Mr. Rogers. That's right. It's just another day in the neighborhood. Kids are playing with their yo-yos and jacks, people are walking their toy poodles. The world is in perfect condition for you to break a little sweat.

-Running in the rain makes you feel like a total badass. There's all these sissies trotting around, trying to cover their hair with a newspaper or trying to avoid stepping into puddles with their gorgeous Uggs. And then there you are. Splishin' and splashin' right into those puddles with all you've got. And your clothes are sticking to you and your hair looks outrageous. And without even meaning to, you're making a mean, tough-guy face because you have to squint to avoid getting drippy-drops in your eyes. Plus, you don't get dehydrated so quickly, so you can run for a longer period of time and really take advantage of that badass feeling. Maybe run by your friends house and wave as you pass by while they are playing video games. Or run directly into the path of someone with an umbrella and stretch your right arm out for a big, hugh high five. Running in the rain is my absolute favorite kind of running so far.

- Running in the snow makes you feel like a lunatic. Everybody else is cuddled around a fireplace or sipping hot chocolate while they assemble a snuggly kitty themed jigsaw puzzle. But not you. You're out there in the wilderness. Who know's what's going to happen out there? There's slippery sidewalks, blinging glare from the sun shining on the crisp, white snow, and hidden obstacles beneath winter's blanket. You're completely bonkers! But you're loving every minute of it.

Mmm, I could really go for a smoothy or some fro-yo. You too?