Halloween Run

I have not found time this year to squeeze in single stroller runs like I used to last year or even solo day time runs when both kids are in school.  With my son in the elementary school now, I have been going in to eat lunch with him or to volunteer on my off days from working at the preschool.  Rick was out of town for work last week and for part of the week before too, so I was using the elliptical machine every morning instead of getting my usual runs.   

On Halloween, I was feeling tired of using the elliptical machine for 3 days in a row with another one coming the next day.  I had taco soup in the crock pot going for dinner, and I knew the trick or treating wouldn't start until 6 or so.  It left me enough time to fit a run in before dinner!  I dressed and gathered the kids.  I dropped an enormous golden delicious apple into each of their laps as we got started, which they happily gnawed at for almost the entire duration of the run.  That sort of made up for all of the candy they would be eating later, right?

If you ask me, there is something special about running on holidays.  I LOVE Turkey Trots and even ran the Atlanta Marathon on Thanksgiving Day once.  Before kids, I used to get up and do a quick run on Christmas morning.  I could almost feel the anticipation and excitement in the air.  My eyes devoured the sights of decorated houses and my mind worked overtime picturing all the Christmas morning surprises happening inside them.  It's as though running while seeing all of this makes it more real to me.

Halloween was like that today too.  There was a wonderful sense of excitement all around us.  I ran through neighborhoods we hadn't seen all season, so the decorations were new and thrilling to us.  The kids commented on many of them in between bites of their apples!  We saw people scurrying to finish up decorations--one house in particular with 4 or 5 life-sized scary "dummies" placed all around the yard.  I had no idea so many people decorated on a big scale like that!  My daughter used the peaceful run to sit quietly and almost fell asleep, a good thing since we were staying up 2 hours past bedtime tonight!

I felt the enormous freedom that comes from getting to do an expected run.  It's amazing what a run can do to help you feel not so tied down when you are playing "single mom" for a few days.  The sun glowed yellow and orange as it started creeping low on the horizon.  The changing leaves and the pumpkins everywhere were a beautiful mix of yellows, oranges, and reds.  I managed a slow 5 miles and felt so much better after that run, even though I was unaccustomed to running while pushing so much weight.  I didn't manage to find time to shower before trick or treating, but I changed into fresh clothes and--hey--we were outside!  

This run was something different and special.  Maybe a run on Halloween afternoon isn't the first thing on most people's to do lists, but it was for this mom on this day.  It turned out to be a great thing for all three of us.

Spider and pumpkin trick or treat