Let the cheering commence..

I went for a run this morning. This is the same as I do most mornings and in the same location as other recent runs, Cherokee Blvd. I will will tire of this location soon enough but right now I am trying to take advantage of the fine mix of hills, flats and various mileage.

Today was a 4-miler, 3 miles of rolling road and a 1 mile hill in the middle, 1/2 mile up, 1/2 mile down. The boulevard can be a crowded place but today the runners and outfits on bicycles were few. I went out at my usual slow place, quite comfortable and happy. Though the air was cool and the sky overcast, the humidity was high so it wasn't too long before I felt little trickles of sweat roll down my forehead.

The first 1.5 miles passed quickly and I reached the base of the hill with anticipation. The road goes up, levels off for a few steps then proceeds steeply to the top. The thing I like most about running uphill is running downhill on the other side. The uphill scenario above makes for a grand downhill effort.

My face must have been flushed as I crested the hill, my mouth set in a grimace and my hair plastered to my head. I would guess my pace looked painfully slow to the casual observer, but I was feeling good. As I turned around at the 2 mi marker to return back to the parking lot, I hear some clapping and cheering. I looked up and saw 2 ladies in a fast walk cresting the hill, they are clapping and yelling "good job."

Where did they come from? My first reaction was to flash a smile and thank them. They smiled back and started running. As I started down the hill, I began to wonder if they were cheering because the old lady with the flushed face actually made it up the hill without a heart attach. I know I look bad when I run, but geez.

Funny, a similar thing happened to me last week on the same hill during a 5.2 mi. As young couple went flying by me, all legs and arms in motion, something caught my eye. I looked up to see the guy with a big grin on his face giving me the thumbs up. I smiled back. He appeared to be happy and I wrote it off to him giving encouragement to the old, slow lady as she struggled up the hill. Today's episode has confirmed it.