Fit-to-Fat-to-Fit Blog: A foggy run in pictures

The alarm went off at 5:29 a.m.  and it was time to go for my weekly long run. It was very difficult to get up this morning.  The bed was, well, comfortable. And I was tired. But comfortable isn’t how you get into shape.  I laced up my running shoes, got my phone out from under my sleeping five-year-old and put the dog back in her crate. My GPS watch was ready to go. I looked out the window and couldn’t see my neighbor’s house. Mississippi was blanketed with thick fog this morning. I started making my way through the moist pea soup.

Gills would have been handier than lungs this morning.

Two miles into the run, I made it to my favorite pond.  I stopped and looked at how the fog had blurred the world. Trees stood as silent sentinels, guarding the shoreline bravely from the gray shroud licking at it.

I then cut through the woods and ran out onto the Natchez Trace. The Ross Barnett Reservoir was shrouded in the mist.  All that I could see was my favorite oak, who was guarding the Overlook.

I picked up the Ridgeland Multipurpose Trail and started my long run.  Too many cars on the Trace were running without their headlights. Even though I had my flourescent yellow Run from the Sun shirt on, I wanted to get off the road. It was too dangerous.

I love the Ridgeland trail. It is hilly, challenging and usually has plenty of other runners.  One of the things I love about running is seeing friends out on the trail. Today was no exception. I saw several friends.  I always smile and say hello to as many people I can.  Don’t let others see you suffer. That’s my motto.

I cut down behind the Mississippi Crafts Center and ran on a portion of the Old Natchez Trace.  With the fog, you could almost see the ghosts of the bandits who used to rob the travelers.

The Natchez Trace, which runs from Natchez to Jackson to Tupelo to Nashville is a recreational blessing.  Here’s the Ridgeland Multipurpose Trail as it runs parallel to the New Trace. The speed limit on the Trace is 50. I was in no danger of breaking the law.

The stretch of the trail from Old Canton Road to the Old Craft Center parking lot is nearly all uphill. This old oak looks like a haunted soul.  I was heading back home. I still had five more miles to run.

I took a long cut (what I do when I want to add miles) and ran by the Reservoir. This man was fog fishing with his two wiener dogs.  It was a peaceful scene.

I made it back home after running 13.5 miles. I burned 2,200 calories. My heart rate ranged from 147 to 172.  The fog outside started to lift as I hit the showers.  Another day, another run.  I cherish mornings like this.  It is one of the gifts of going from fit-to-fat-to-fit.