Oregon Trip, Part II: City Running Vs. Country Running

Since I'm training for a marathon, I had a scheduled long run to do during my vacation in Oregon.  I needed to do at least 10 miles.  My mom loves to ride horses, so it was a perfect opportunity to spend time with her.  She and Harmony rode their horses along side of me while I jogged.  It was a beautiful and sunny Fall day in Central Oregon.  We could see the gorgeous buttes all around us, as well as all of the usual desert plants and rocks.  I couldn't help but compare my city running to this experience of running the country.  First, I must explain that I did not become serious about running until about two years ago, so I didn't spend very much time running in the country when I was growing up. 

There is beautiful scenery to see while running in both the city and country, depending on what kind of person you are.  I am the kind of person who sees beauty in architecture and in artwork that is painted on the outside of buildings.  I love to see stained glass windows on churches and old brick businesses and houses.  I imagine who might of lived in those old houses when they were first built and think about all that may have happened in order to keep that same building standing all of those years. 

While running in the country, you might get to run by a field full of cows chewing on their cud.  If you speak to them, they will turn their heads and acknowledge you, most of the time.  I was a little worried during a shorter run right before this one that I might see a cougar, since cougars are very prevalent in Central Oregon.  Just as I was thinking about what I might do if I saw one, I had to stop and wait for a heard of deer to pass by.  It was incredible!

In the city, you run by "tumble weaves" and in the country, you run by tumble weeds.  They are both a sight to see and they are both a little annoying.  If you are wondering about what a "tumble weave" is, just know that women of all ethnicities wear fake hair (yes, even white women).  Sometimes the hair breaks off at unexpected times or it just flies out of the garbage on a windy day.  That, my friends, is how "tumble weaves" end up flying around on the street.

Both while running in the city and the country I am free to think about whatever it is I want to, and I usually think about how blessed I am to be traveling with my legs in such a way that many people aren't able to do.  I always try to thank God while I'm running so that I never, ever take it for granted.  Regardless of whether I see annoying or beautiful things along the way.