The Adventures of Cowboy Hazel

I was driving from my aunt’s house to my cousin’s this morning, a trip that I’ve made hundreds of times before, when I somehow got lost and ended up in the mountains. Worried that I was going to be late, and thoroughly disgusted with myself for getting lost on this simple trip, I decided to try a shortcut. I slowed, turned on the blinker, and left the road, driving into for the forest. I was going slowly uphill for quite some time, but gradually the trees started to thin. I eventually reached the timberline and saw an eagle sitting about two hundred yards ahead, perched on a boulder. I turned the truck off, got out, and started walking towards him. He turned his head to face me and blinked. I kept approaching but he didn’t move. Eventually, I was close enough to touch the bird and I reached out my hand and patted the feathers on his neck and started talking to him quietly, calmly, just as I used to do to my horse. By this time, either the eagle had grown significantly or I had shrunk considerably, I’m not sure which. Actually, I don’t remember any change in size happening. I just remember throwing my right leg over the top of the eagle, grabbing hold of him near the base of his wings and squeezing him with my heels to let him know I was ready to take off. We began in a small circle around the top of the mountain. I looked down and saw the seemingly infinite forest, broken only by occasional lakes and rivers and cliffs. I wasn’t guiding the bird at all, he seemed to know where he was going and I just relaxed and looked around me. I was no longer holding on, but now just sitting straight up and looking around, taking in the amazing views. We began heading what I think was west. It seemed like hours that we were flying. The mountains gradually changed into flat wheat fields, and then changed again into low rolling hills filled with old oaks and vineyards. I saw a quarry with a never-ending line of trucks driving up out of it and thought it was the one near my cousin’s house but as we began circling downwards in a landing pattern, I realized that it wasn’t the quarry I was thinking of and that I once again had no idea where I was. But the eagle still seemed to know exactly where he was going and so I kept silent as we landed atop a nondescript hill about a half mile from the huge opening in the ground. I dismounted and then turned back to the eagle and picked him up. Again, I don’t remember any change in size happening, but one must have occurred here. I knew that I had to carry him down the hill, that he couldn’t fly down it. I didn’t know why he couldn’t fly or, for that matter, why we even had to go down the hill. Those questions never even presented themselves to me. It was all very matter-of-fact, almost like it was predestined. Somehow I knew that it was gravely important that we make it, and that’s all there was. I never did make it though. Somewhere around two thirds of the way down the hill, I woke up to the sound of my neighbor’s pit bull barking in the backyard.

That’s what happens when I take NyQuil before I go to sleep. I’ve been battling off yet another illness this week. It’s been very similar to the last round back in late August, but not as severe. Or, it could have just been better because I was more defensive this time. I’ve been taking in insane amounts of liquids and Vitamin C and sleeping as much as possible these past few days because I really wanted to get over this quickly. I’m running a half-marathon in Staten Island tomorrow and was really hoping to drop under 1:31:45 (seven minute miles). But now I’m not so sure that’s going to happen. I’ve been coughing horribly, my throat aches, and my nose is running nonstop (ironic). I feel like it will be an accomplishment just to finish the run tomorrow at this point. Shattering my P.R. seems like asking for too much. We’ll see how it goes.

I watched a great documentary tonight — Spirit of the Marathon. I had it here at the house all week but intentionally waited until today to watch it so that it would motivate me on my run tomorrow. It definitely did get me amped up. Consider this a movie recommendation. I am very eager to get out there tomorrow and see how this goes.

I’m even more eager for this last month-and-a-half before Philadelphia to be over with. I hear everyone talking about New York and it kills me that I have to wait another three weeks beyond that to run my marathon. But, I suppose that’s three weeks of extra training and cooler weather, so I shouldn’t complain. I’m very confident about the race. I already have two 20 milers under my belt and have another one and a 22 on the way, so even though it’ll be my first time going the 26.2, it won’t be totally uncharted territory. But, I really shouldn’t start thinking about that now because then I’ll get all pumped up and stand no chance at all of being able to fall asleep soon, as I need to.

So, instead, a brief recap of the week. Monday and Tuesday I had jury duty for the first time ever. I got called into a trial for a guy who killed six people but luckily wasn’t picked to stay on it, and so the rest of my two days were just waiting around to see if another trial would call me. None ever did and I was able to spend two solid days reading 740 Park, which I had stalled on because it had gotten a little boring. Tuesday morning, I ran early with Sarah on the Hudson River, then Wednesday we did intervals around the Reservoir in the Park: a mile warm-up, a 6:20 mile, 800 yard jog, 6:30 mile, 800 yard jog, another 6:20 mile, and then a two mile cool-down. It was an intense run. And, on the way, we saw four raccoons. Wednesday afternoon, I started to feel ill and I took a nap on my lunch break then went to sleep early that evening. I was going to get up Thursday morning to run, but when I got of bed, I felt like I was about to die. I struggled through work and then ran a steady four miles in the evening instead of the 6 I was supposed to. Yesterday was pretty much the same story except I ran 5.5 miles. I originally planned to take today off, but I felt like I’d be better off if I sweated some of this crap out, so I did another four this morning (Well, actually about 12:30 when I finally woke up after the eagle ride.) Now, all that’s left to see is how all this transitions into the race tomorrow.

On Tuesday, I took advantage of the fact that I was downtown (which is exceedingly rare these days, unless I’m in the middle of a long run around the island) and went to J&R Music World to buy a record player. I’ve wanted one for years (literally) and yet somehow never could justify buying one even though I’ve spent countless times more money on things that were completely worthless. So, ever sine then, I’ve been listening to the five albums on vinyl I have here in New York over and over again. My parents are going to bring out the rest from Colorado this Christmas. Right now, I’m listening to Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief. And, yes, when people tell you that music sounds better on vinyl, they are telling the truth, not just being elitist. Even though it comes out of the same speakers as my CDs, the music just sounds so much more real coming from the turntable.

Other than that, not a hell of a lot has happened. It’s pretty much just eat, sleep, work, run, and watch a playoff baseball game here and there. Speaking of, the Rays and Red Sox are knotted up at 8 in the bottom of the eighth. Seems auspicious. Maybe I should migrate to my recliner and finish watching…