May memories

I want to remember two really beautiful and memorable runs from May. I've settled with myself that I'll never go back and catch up on all the runs, workouts, and things of interest. In fact, I don't even remember much I want to share. I did write a tiny snippet about the Maze, so I'm covered there.

Mother's Day morning, I ran with Gayatri and Elizabeth, who were kind enough to join me even though they did their long run Saturday. We ran 6 miles along the north side of the trail from 1st street to Longhorn Dam. Details fade, but it was a glorious spring morning. G-tree and Elizabeth talked of seeing a Swan family the day before, complete with 5 baby swans. "What are baby swans called?" we wondered as we ran toward the dam. I secretly hoped we'd see those little puffs of downy fluff. I don't think I have ever seen a baby swan.

On our way back, I spotted swans in the reeds along the riverbank. We crept in and saw 5 darling baby swans (cygnets for you precise folk). They were brownish-gray with small, black beaks. It was the sweetest scene as the family nestled in the reeds. I felt it was the perfect start to Mother's Day. I haven't seen the swans or cygnets again since then, but perhaps I'll look a little closer next time I'm on the northeast side of the trail. I'm curious to see how the babies have grown and changed.

Mother's Day we also set out to find some tadpoles at Barton Creek down off Lost Creek Blvd. Joshua and Elijah kept a tadpole a piece (along with an accidental minnow), and I took a tadpole to the preschool for the kiddos. If you've never watched a tadpole metamorphosis, then you might want to jaunt down and get yourself a tadpole. I was more interested and fascinated than the kids, I think. Elijah named his tadpole "Taddie" and Joshua named his tadpole "Morphy." On Father's Day, we took Taddie and Morphy back home to the creek because they were now froglets.

Tiny baby Morphy


Elijah holding Taddie


Now, the other run I want to mention is perhaps one of the most beautiful runs I've ever done. I mentioned before that David took me to Dallas for a short anniversary trip to see the LA Galaxy play FC Dallas. We drove up Saturday and ate dinner at a really yummy, recommended restaurant called Cafe Izmir. Maybe some of you have been there. Sunday morning we woke up and drove to White Rock Lake to run. It was fun for us to run together where David had run his sub-3 marathon. We started out together on the concrete and asphalt trail as cyclists zoomed by. This trail is clearly more popular for cyclists than runners.

Once David realized I would be safe running alone, he took off in a blur. I had already pointed out wildflowers and made us stop to smell them and get a closer look. The lake was very lovely. The sky was clear blue with smears of white clouds as though someone ran a icing-laden finger across the sky. I stayed on the pedestrian trail whenever possible rather than the asphalt road. It was mostly shaded and just lovely. Downtown Dallas peeked into view around turns and up hills (which there weren't really any hills).

I did and out and back run while David ran the whole trail loop. I had to stop again for some flower admiring. There was a thistle that was over 6-feet tall. The pedestrian trail went through some grassy areas with flowers that were over 3 feet tall, so it felt like I was running in a field.

My chest was bothering me where my bra strap lays, so I tucked my shirt under and felt better. I ran this way until shortly before meeting up with David back where we started. As I walked toward him I pulled my shirt back down straight, and he asked me, "What happened?" I looked down at my white shirt to see blood and sweat swirled around. I was surprised. I had no idea I had been bleeding. My new bra had rubbed enough to make me bleed, and I was able to sympathize with running men who have sweaty-blood driplets from their nipples.

Both the White Rock run and the Swan run were times I wish I'd had a camera. I don't do justice to the sereneness of those runs, but hopefully you've had a run just as stunning, peaceful, and full of beautiful nature. I think the White Rock trail would be perfect if it had an actual trail rather than concrete and asphalt.

So, I can't close this post without sharing a picture or two of the soccer game. It was really thrilling to see David Beckham play. If you can't spot him in the pictures, he's the one with the long-sleeved jersey. BTW, LA beat Dallas 5-1. Ouch!

Beckham Direct Free Kick (notice the time and score of the game)


Beckham on Defense