Jinx

I come from a baseball-nutty family. My dad and brother, Dale, are intense White Sox fans...my niece and nephews all played ball...and now a "great-grand" little three year old elf (my niece's daughter) has joined t-ball! Me, I played girls softball and was the bat-girl and official score-keeper for the Marshall County Marshals baseball team in high school. (What girl knew how to do that?)


So I am not unfamiliar with the idea of jinxes in sports. Or the desire to keep them at bay. Was it in "Bull Durham" where the guy was trying to keep a hitting streak going by tapping his bat with a dead chicken? Or never changing his socks? Or underwear? You get the idea. Sometimes you just know that the universe is going to come crashing down on you and failure is inevitable.

Which takes us to my "run" yesterday. It was 89 degrees at 6 pm. I waited until 6:30...wow, 87 degrees. The humidity was in the upper 40% when I started, but at 58% when I finished. I watched my heart rate as I strolled to the end of our inclining driveway...I was already into my "zone" by the time I reached the road. This was going to be something.

I wasn't feeling the "love" for the workout...it just wasn't there. But I did it anyway. Took the dumb dog, Hershey, with me. I walked up the road, topping the worst of the hills before running. Go. It was a 12 minute run night. I was thinking four minutes three times. After 2 minutes, "hmmm...maybe three minutes four times." After three minutes...I was gasping for air. Walk. Gees! What happened? Why do I feel so...blah? Try again. After a minute and a half I was walking again. Walked four minutes more. Just as I started into my run, Hershey crosses in front of me, causing me to stumble and almost twist my knee. Dumb dog! Go anyway. My heart rate jumped to the 180's. Another minute and a half...walk. It was not going to be. I felt so...heavy. So...ploddishy. So...disappointed.

I decided to walk to the 1.5 mile marker I had scoped out so my total distance would at least be three miles. I walked. And then...what the heck? Chaffing? I still had quite a distance to get home. How did that happen? Just walk, Donna. Your heart rate is still up...it'll burn some calories and be better than nothing. Walking. Wondering why this has felt jinxed from the very beginning? And then...I have to pee. Now. Good grief! Hey, Debbie Gilbert's house is right here, I'll stop and say hi...and ask to pee. Oh look, her trash can is empty by the road. I'll take it back to her house for her so she'll have pity on me...and let me pee. "Come on, Hershey, let's drop in on Debbie."

So we roll the trash can up the drive, tuck it up by the garage, and quickly shuffle to the front door and ring the bell. And wait...for...nothing. No! She's not home. Jinxed! I knew it! What now? If I walk fast, the chaffing will get worse. If I walk slow...I might...completely embarass myself before I get home. Let's just say that nature called and I answered...in as private a place as possible. Good grief, indeed.

As Hershey and I continued on our way I thought through the ordeal. The time of day was wrong. The temperature and humidity combined to make it really hot. I even thought of what I ate to see if that could be a factor. Then as I was walking, I noticed something. Something critical. Dumbfounding. Something absolutely the reason the entire effort was doomed...from the very beginning.


My running skirt was on backwards.


I've played ball. I believe in jinxes.


p.s. On the bright side, I ran six minutes and traveled a total of three miles, burning some calories and building muscle. My MMW this week dropped to 184.5. And I did a good (if selfishly motivated) deed for a neighbor. If anyone hears Debbie G wondering how her trash can got back to the garage...send her my way.