The thing I love about running outside is the scenery.
Duh.
I live in a neighborhood with a gazillion houses all smooshed together, but just outside of it, you can find nature…other than the yellowed lawns and potted plants.
There is a section of land that apparently they have turned into hay-bale type things. It’s an odd sight really. A bunch of houses, an open area and…hay bales?
I won’t lie..I live in Nebraska so when you move further west, these bales of yellow hay are fairly common, but in the middle of a suburban neighborhood it makes you do a double take.
I’ve also noticed these lovely yellow flowers…everywhere! They are probably weeds because I see them spread all over the side of the interstate to and fro my hour-long drive to my university, but they make me happy and give me the warm feeling that God sent those flowers (among many other things), simply for our enjoyment. He is cool like that. (Actually looking at these two pictures…one are sunflowers and one are…other yellow flowers…but both are beautiful!)
I’ve also noticed the grasshoppers are making their appearance again. I only had a couple hit me on my run yesterday, but I remember last year they got really crazy and I felt like I was an intruder jogging up and down their side walks. It was a parting-of-the-red seas ordeal when I ran through the park…so. many. grasshoppers.
Just a short post to remind my fellow runners to enjoy the scenery! It really does help to focus on something else besides the fact that you’ve had a stitch in your side for 10 minutes or that your booty is burning from all those hills. 😉
What do you notice on your outdoor runs?
PS I came downstairs to grab my plate to put the other half of my sandwich on (aka my dinner) and ended up writing this post. Side-tracked much?
I went for a run this morning along the seawall near my house in Vancouver, BC… Obviously a very different sight than you, lots of fishing boats, seagulls and mama’s pushing strollers…I feel like this was the summer to have a baby!
Oh yes seagulls and fishing boats would be MUCH different than my scenery, but lovely all the same! 🙂
I went for a run this morning along the seawall near my house in Vancouver, BC… Obviously a very different sight than you, lots of fishing boats, seagulls and mama’s pushing strollers…I feel like this was the summer to have a baby!
Oh yes seagulls and fishing boats would be MUCH different than my scenery, but lovely all the same! 🙂
My usual running route includes a beautiful park with bronze western sculptures, two sports arenas, and even an Ikea. I see those sunflowers during my run too, and they always brighten my day. I get to see ducks and plenty of bunnies on my route too. I’ve been running the same route for over seven years and it never gets old.
My usual running route includes a beautiful park with bronze western sculptures, two sports arenas, and even an Ikea. I see those sunflowers during my run too, and they always brighten my day. I get to see ducks and plenty of bunnies on my route too. I’ve been running the same route for over seven years and it never gets old.