I think I know the reason for the fun, I have been following the news a little too closely again. In the year 2020 that seems to be a bad habit to get into. Most of the headlines are about things that only stress me out and when I get to thinking too much about the things that I have zero control over…well like a lot of people I go into a bit of a tailspin.

Which is just the way it is for most of us I think. Read or watch too much about the shitty things going on in the world and it is hard to stay positive. I don’t plan to bury my head in the sand and ignore the happening in the world, but it doesn’t mean that I have to dwell on them all the time. There is a time and a place to think about all the bad things that are happening and also a time and a place to think about and be grateful for all the blessings that we do have in our lives.

I am mostly the glass is half full kind of guy and can catch myself looking into the Abyss and pull myself back from the edge before it notices me and pulls me close to its bosom and doesn’t let go.

So I have managed to climb back away from the ledge yet again. Time to get back to writing, kill a few Orcs in Neverwinter and enjoy the life that I have, which includes running a lot.

Oh did I say “running”. Why yes, I did run this morning and I get to write a bit about it too.

Hot, muggy, sweaty mess – check.

Slow, swimming sort of , finished – check

Feet, uncomfortable, hot – check

In other words the run today was pretty darn warmish, when I got back in the house it was in the ’80s, Strava app said 70% humidity (felt higher), a breeze. So I went out with the idea that I was going to do Notta Road and then get home. When I have a fairly soaked shirt while walking Bennie, I know enough to not tempt fate and run hard after we finish.

• Distance: 5.02
• Time: 47:33
• Pace: 9:28

So I didn’t, I didn’t even bother looking at the mile splits, because I knew they were going to be ridiculously slow. They were.

• 1.0 – 9:19
• 2.0 – 9:14
• 3.0 – 9:22
• 4.0 – 9:22
• 5.0 – 10:04

However, I as much as I struggled coming up Stevens Hill, I finished decently. Which is all you can ask for in this weather. Although the paces were not as bad as I thought they were going to be and the first 4.0 miles was fairly consistent.

Overall, a get it done run, but one where I got to think about how to keep from looking into the Abyss and to keep the monsters who dwell there away. The best way I have thought of is to limit social media even more than I have, just stick to a few trusted sites or stations and limit my exposure to the monsters who abide in the Abyss.

They are there and they do exist to bring you down to their level.