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March 22, 2007
Rest In Peace
We runners become ardently attached to the material objects that facilitate our hobby. Watches, sunglasses, shoes, that perfect pair of shorts, and hydration packs are among the things that we simply cannot live without. Last summer, I lost my first and (at the time) only running watch, the one that I purchased in the 8th grade. Even though I now own the same model, which looks a bit more modern, I still lament the watch's loss.
Sometimes, you just have to let go of that which you become attached to. How does that saying go, "If you love something, set it free..."? Well, let's just say that I loved my sunglasses, and I certainly set them free.
One evening in Costa Rica, my sweetie and I went for a sunset beach run. At the end of our run, we stopped to do pushups, situps, and exercises of that sort. We noticed what looked like a swing in a tree. It was a circular branch, suspended horizontally about 6 feet above the ground by rope, a perfect pullup bar. We set a camera and both of our sunglasses on the ground, and went to work. Somehow, the rope broke under my sweetie's weight, and he and the pullup bar came tumbling to the ground, atop the camera and sunglasses. When the dust settled, we found that my sunglasses had not survived the accident. The frames were shattered and the lenses had popped out in 2 different directions. There and then, my sunglasses left this mortal world. I was rather attached to those sungalsses, a pair of Smith Toaster Sliders in which I had run thousands of miles over the years, and I was sad to see them go.
I was also presented with a problem in that we were on a remote Costa Rican beach, rather at the very end of the Costa Rican civilized world, without a pair of sunglasses. The next morning, we went into a little village and began inquiring. At each little shop, we received chuckles and responses like, "Nope, no sunglasses around here." Finally, just as I was about to give up, I found one tiny store that had 4 pairs of sunglasses to choose from. For about $5 US, I became the proud owner of the ugliest pair of purple sunglasses that I have ever seen. They were rectangular, reflective, and they made the world look purple. However, I had to wear them so as to not go blind in the tropical sun.
Over time, I gradually got used to them. The shock of looking at myself in the mirror diminished and I became acclimated to viewing a purple world. When I returned to the United States, I settled into the business of finding a new pair of sunglasses. I took my time, though, trying to find the perfect pair. Today, my new sunglasses, these pretties, arrived in the mail just in time to wear them, as opposed to the Costa Rican purples, out for a run! They aren't too different from my last pair (I even bought the same color, "Root Beer."); rather, they are a newer, more modern model.
Rest in peace, little Toaster Sliders, I still miss you.
Posted by Meghan at March 22, 2007 10:49 PM
Comments
How true, how true! The day my running watch (which I had worn for maybe 7 years?) gave up on living I was a very sad camper. I think I may have shed a tear! All those miles we shared together and we finally had to part... :)
Anyway, glad you found a new pair of sunglasses (that don't make the world purple :). Here's to another decade and many miles of running with them!
Posted by: Beth at March 23, 2007 5:34 AM
I'm attached to: my watch, my garmin, my running bras (I'll never find comfortable new ones!), certain shirts, my old vest and my white hat (a new attachment, it used to be my blue one). Shoes force me to let go by hurting my feet when they get old. Good thing. I'm not attached to my sunglasses though - maybe we don't get enough sun here...
Posted by: backofpack at March 23, 2007 6:24 AM
There's sentimental attachment to my Pikes Peak Finisher tech shirt, my inaugural Goblin Valley 50K shirt (my first race over 10 miles [way over])my Durango Double cap, and - this sounds ridiculous - my Nike underwear. The latter is also the only item I percieve as giving me good luck. I'm not superstitious, but... I sure feel lucky when I have them on. At least I can't break my underwear, and since I wear them underneath, they'll last forever.
Posted by: JeffO at March 23, 2007 10:13 AM
Hmm, I am not attached to anything...but then again, not surprising, I had a whole post on been clutter-free and letting go:) Oh, no, i am attached to certain pictures...that's about it.
Posted by: olga at March 23, 2007 11:24 AM
this entry reads like a wonderful. entertaining, funny, relatable editorial for a running mag or outdoor magazine! you should submit it to be published (title 9 sports, patagonia, rei, running times, trail runner!) :)
Posted by: liz at March 23, 2007 2:22 PM
That link to the glasses did say "Lifetime Guarantee!" Does that cover "tumbles by boyfriends from suspended circular thingings"?
Posted by: chelle at March 25, 2007 8:44 AM
Sympathy to the max! I have stepped on or sat on every single pair of glasses I have ever owned. But not to beyond wearing, although some of them sit crooked and make me look nerdy. Those Smiths look fast! I have to stick to RX running glasses so the Oakley half jackets have been my huckleberry for the past 3 years. Great Post, Meghan!
Posted by: Kendra Borglasses at March 26, 2007 11:35 AM