running with rorschach.

having never been to kansas, i assumed it would live up to its legendary flatness, but i am here to bear witness to its not so much keeping with that program. at least in these parts, it's quite hilly. this morning's run involved a rise of 300ft over one half-mile stretch, and in case you don't know what sort of incline that is, i'll tell you that in scientific terms, it's known as a "doozy".

this was our third morning here and my first to run outside. our morning class schedule lands my morning run in darkness, so i'd opted for the treadmill, but this morning i thought, what the hell, i'll go out and have a look around.

turns out, i didn't know what i'd been missing.

our hotel is pushed to the back of a large parking lot which is shared with a shabby movie theatre (which carries a surprising a first-run lineup), a small strip of retail (tanning, nails, dry cleaner, 7-11), a mexican place, a "brewhouse", and an endoscopy clinic. beyond the borders of our lot, things are mostly residential with a couple churches, an eyecare clinic, a farm with numerous horses, and an assisted living center all jumbled in for good measure. the zoning laws in kansas are a mystery to me.

at any rate, point is: as far as i could tell, wide and well-lit sidewalks extend throughout the area for several miles in many directions.

that is what i'd been missing.

with lighting like that on the sidewalks, there was no reason to have been inside. plus, for a 5AM sidewalk, it was fairly well travelled. as i was going west, i passed a runner going east. proceeding up the ginormous hill i mentioned earlier, a wizened old wizard of a runner passed me. and -- there was even a guy out walking his dog. that's not bad for a 4 mile (2 out - 2 back) jog at 5AM on a weekday morning in suburban shawnee.

according to my weather channel app, 5AM tomorrow comprises 70% chance of thunderstorms and a 15mph wind. looks like i'll be duking it out with the other treadmillers for my time on the machine.

i do regret not going outside earlier in the week.

elevation profile from the hilly part of this morning's run
masquerading as a rorschach card.