Overdone, but not done

Saturday evening The FeMan was doing his homework, surfing the web, and doing some totally geeky computer stuff. And who should call but Fast Eddie, returned from Ironman, getting rested up and also doing some surfing. After some social chit chat he asks The FeMan if he'd like to go running on Sunday. "Just tag along with Dr. K" as Dr. K(an aspiring Troublemaker) readies himself for the Seattle Marathon.

The FeMan was starting to feel human again after his prolonged physical recovery from A Day for Camels and a really nasty cold.

"But only 6 or 8 miles", he said. So, an 8:00 am starting time was settled upon and he went back to his geeky activities.

Sunday morning dawn was a beautiful fall morning. Crisp but not cold. No rain. No wind. A little threatening, but looked good. The FeMan jogged down the hill to the appointed meeting place and the others were already there: Dr. K looking lean and fit and Fast Eddie wearing potpourri garb. The FeMan is known for loud lycra and clashing colors and Dr. K noted that Fast Eddie was picking up on the trend.

Just as the threesome were about to jog off, who should show up but some of the Mercer Island Gang, led by Mad Marv. With a loud shout to wait up, they charged up, ready to go.

And off they went, jogging along at a very pleasant pre-marathon training pace, yakking and blabbing to each other.

Dr. K wanted to run a portion of the Seattle Marathon course, just so it would seem familiar, but asked for a drinking fountain excursion at the 3-mile mark. The group followed along.

After taking on fluids, the group headed up hill, the only real hill of the marathon course. Nearing the top, Mad Marv grew impatient with the slow pace and led the Mercer Island Gang away for the trip back home.

Dr. K, The FeMan, and Fast Eddie continued on to the next drinking fountain. Dr. K described the Interlaken Loop to Fast Eddie who'd never been there before. The FeMan was excited to see how Fast Eddie would like it, having taken it a number of times in the past.

The talking and running continued: past Dr. K's grade school, looping under the freeway (which looked like some kind of Mad Max scene), back over the freeway. Now they were getting close to REI.

The FeMan grew silent. His knees were aching and the options to return home were limited. There was a big hill and a freeway between himself and home and a lot of miles.

Turning the corner at the freeway overpass The FeMan mapped out a route home in his head. No money so it would be difficult to call the Big J for an emergency pick up. And there was always the pride thing standing in the way.

Headed down hill he told the other two he was going to head back.

Following the street downhill, he began to look up each side street to see if there was a shortcut under the freeway. Sure enough, returning to the Mad Max area, it was clear that a person could get through. Looking over his shoulder for men in leather and spikes The FeMan made his way through with the sound of the cars coming down from 100 feet above.

Then some stairs and side streets and a trail to get back to Interlaken.

His knees were really beginning to pound and visions of arthroscopic surgery danced in his head. Should he beg someone to call home, should he walk, should he crawl, just what would be best? A little stretch of walking demonstrated no improvement, so he continued jogging slowly.

A water fountain stop followed by a few minutes of watching a soccer game brought him within two miles of home. Taking the most direct route, he slogged up the last hill and came into his home neighborhood. A couple more blocks then blessed walking back home.

It was over! The FeMan was overdone, but not done. He dragged in the door, plopped his tired butt down on the floor and took that pounding pressure off his knees.

Ah, relief!

Two days later he was extremely pleased to hear that Fast Eddie also collapsed upon his return home. He had gone the full distance with Dr. K, having done a complete circumnavigation of Lake Union.

You'd think these old guys would get some smarts after a while. Just goes to show that you can never tell.

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