Brilliant … But Bouncy

I Went From Trotting to Trudging.

It was Day 1 of my 2021 goal: 500 miles in six months! I awoke with a sense of purpose.

I checked the weather. It was going up to a whopping 35 degrees. Then I looked out the window.

Hm.

The whole world was wet.

But it didn’t look like it was raining; I got out my phone to MAP MY WALK!

That’s when I remembered that I’d wanted to listen to audiobooks while I walked. But none of my ear buds fit my new phone, and my new bluetooth headphones weren’t charged yet.

But I was ready to go!

I harnessed Loki and bundled myself up for the Arctic. I put a faux-fleece scarf around my neck that is so big and fluffy, it can double as a COVID mask. I snapped my tundra-ready jacket and put on my fingerless gloves – with the mitten tops engaged. I hit “start” on my mapping app as I walked outside.

Before I got off the driveway, I started calculating: If I walk 4 miles, five days a week, that’s 20 miles a week. With a couple of bike rides on warm days, I will meet my goal – no problem!

I started singing to myself, I will walk 500 miles! And I will walk 500 more…! It was very festive inside my head.

I decided to go as far as I could go with the limited paved areas near my home, and measure the distance. My plan was to walk in a giant circle, which I hoped would be at least four miles.

I was near the end of my street when I realized that it was, actually, raining a little. I put my glasses in my coat pocket to keep them from fogging, but Loki was merrily trotting along and sniffing, so I wasn’t too worried.

When I started to tire a little, I pulled my phone out of my coat pocket to check the app. The phone didn’t recognize me behind the giant scarf, so I had to un-do my mitten-tops and type in my passcode. Swiping it open, I noticed a few new raindrops on the case.

Finally, believing I’d gone more than a mile, I opened the app.

It said: 0.44 miles.

I put the phone back in my pocket.

I must have read that wrong, I thought. I rechecked, since I’d taken my glasses off. Nines are frequently mistaken for fours.

Now it said: 0.45 miles.

Soon I went from trotting to trudging. I didn’t look at the app again. I walked and walked and walked. At some point, the rain picked up, and didn’t slow down. I kept trudging.

Loki was drenched and cold. He kept shaking the water from his fur and eyeing me for mercy. I hearkened back to his days as a stray, and figured he could handle anything.

Still, I felt bad for him. When I’d gone about 2/3 as far as I could go, I circled back toward the house.

Soaked to the bone, I knocked on the window so Bill could open the garage and I could bathe the dog to warm his weary bones. I hung my dripping coat from the car’s side mirror.

Finally, I checked the app. I’d seemingly been gone all day, braving the dreariest of weather. How many miles did I go?

The app said: 2.28 miles.

Two lousy miles.

A few minutes later, while trying to recover by taking a long, hot shower, I decided I could round up to 2.3.

Only 497.7 miles to go.