My first Dubai street run

Today I did something for the first time here; I ran the streets!  Most of you know that I love running outside through neighborhoods and cities.  I'm not a fan of tracks or treadmills.  I prefer to feel like I'm traveling when I run.  Before today the last time I ran the streets was in Texas in early August.  I was nervous about running here because I didn't expect there to be sidewalks or traffic lights for pedestrians, I thought the traffic would be too bad, and I wasn't sure how people would react to a woman running alone in spandex.  (My shoulders and knees were covered, of course.)

However, this morning I did it out of necessity because Woody had an early meeting and we have only the one car, so he dropped off Griffin and me early, and I had to find a way back home from Griffin's school.  I've had my fill of taxis, so I thought it might be a good opportunity to try running the streets.

I knew it would be hot, so I wore my hat and carried water.  I also had my phone in case I needed to call a cab or a friend for help for whatever reason.  However, it wasn't much hotter than Texas, so I didn't need much water, and I didn't need my phone, but I'm glad I had it because I got this picture of myself running home:

Running the streets here is a lot like running them in Arlington, Texas.  Most of the way was paved with wide sidewalks, and intersections had crosswalks and walk lights/signs.  Because of this, the traffic really didn't affect me.  In the few places where there weren't sidewalks, there were wide shoulders, so I still didn't have to run in traffic.

One of my fears was that I was afraid I would stick out too much since I really haven't seen any women running around here.  I stuck out as much as I stick out when I run back in the States, which, yes, is kind of a lot.  A person running in the heat is going to be noticed because, come on, it's kind of a crazy thing to do.  :)  So yes, people in their cars stared some, and I got one honk.  But I got honked at and stared at a lot more back home.  It's one of the things you get used to as a runner.  In fact, I forgot how much I missed it.  I have a bit of performer in me (hence my profession as teacher), and it satisfies that need a little.

My only real complaint about running here was that I have to run in capri pants.  Back home I ran in short shorts in weather as cold as 50 degrees (that was my tights/shorts cut-off temp).  But running in 90+ degrees in hot black capris is just hot.  It would be so much more tolerable in shorts.  But hey, it is what it is, and at least I can run, and at least I can wear short sleeves.

So now that I know I can run easily outside here, I feel like got a piece of myself back.  And I also now have a lot of work to do.  I realized how out of shape my lungs are after today.  Running inside on a mill is somehow different for the lungs than running outside.  It's hard to explain, but I feel like my lungs are out of shape, so now I'll have to start planning training runs outside to get back in shape!

Updates and goofy parent scene

I guess I haven't been posting as much lately.  Not much to report, really.  I started an online class, so I've been busy with that.  I had my final interview for the teaching job at the university.  I will teach two sections of a beginning composition class starting Nov 13.  It's great because I'll only have to be there three days a week, four hours a day.

I've been a little sick with sinus troubles for the past week.  So I've been a little down because I haven't been able to get out or exercise as much.  I hope this is over soon so that I can get back to my routine.

Tomorrow I'm going to a knitting group - really looking forward to that.  And I think we're going to try to buy more things for the house to make it a little homier.  We've had the bare essentials, but not much more, so hopefully that will help me through the last month before my job starts.

Griffin's doing great in school.  He's grown so much in so many ways in just a month.  He's doing really well with reading and writing.  His teachers are so good with him.  We couldn't have asked for a better school for him right now.

Last week was family week in his class.  They talked about families, drew pictures of their families, etc.  The teacher invited parents in to talk about families.  Woody and I were so excited about getting to participate in Griffin's class that were were the first ones to speak (at 8:00 Monday morning).  In fact, we were so excited that I think we lost sight of what we were supposed to talk about because once we got in front of all those four-year-olds, we found ourselves putting on our goofy sunglasses, sharing our favorite numbers and colors (and asking the class what theirs were), and talking about how good chocolate is.  Woody really wanted our visit to help Griffin make friends, so he asked the class in an enthusiastic voice, "Do you like Griffin?!"  The whole class shouted, "Yeah!"  Griffin beamed.  Then, as if that weren't enough to win them over, Woody asked them if they wanted to see his dance.  So he prompted me to sing (in a terribly unprepared deadpan voice) "You are my Sunshine," as he did his goofiest dance for the kids.  (If you haven't seen Woody's All Creature Great and Small theme song-inspired dance, he sticks his belly out and rhythmically bends at the knees while letting his arms flop from side to side, swinging from the shoulder joint.)  The kids loved it, laughing and clapping along.  Then, I swear just to pick on us, the teacher asked us to do it again.

Afterward Woody told me that his goal was for Griffin's classmates to see how cool his parents were so that they would like Griffin even more.  It must've worked because tonight Griffin was talking about his three best friends.  His teacher also told me that she has to separate him from his friends so he can get his work done.  :)  

And now  Griffin's classmates recognize me when they see me in the hallway.  I'm the goofy "You are my Sunshine" lady in sunglasses whose favorite number is 5.