Saturday In The Park

Jun 28, 2025

It wasn’t in Chicago, but there were bands playing. As I rode the struggle bus on my run in the park, I passed what appeared to be a drum and bugle corps competition. Lots and lots of kids varying in age from about twelve to twenty five, all in uniforms, playing brass and drums. Some were quite good. Some were…not.

As for my run, it was a struggle, but it was better than yesterday. Yesterday I felt Afibby for most of my jaunt, though I knew I wasn’t. At times, I felt my chesticular (yeah, new word) internals “relax” and the running came easy again. Then, a few moments later, tightness reasserted. I’m hoping the chest relaxing times increase as time progresses. I look at it as an indicator of healing.

At this point after the cardio recalibration, just getting out and finishing a run is my goal. I don’t have to remind myself that I’m running (relatively) soon after the procedure, and I am trying to do so at 7200’ above sea level. My inability to breathe was reminder enough. I wasn’t the slowest runner out there; I think I passed one person and one hopping grackle. Everyone is on their own journey though, even grackles. I am finally coming around to the point of view that the only person I’m competing with is…me.

The best part of my run was petting a beautiful Golden boy. When I asked and was granted permission to say hi, he lunged over, and immediately flopped for a belly rub. So much Golden.

While I was out there struggling to breathe, I saw more than the usual number of folks running in the park. For whatever reason, instead of the usual hundred or so folks I’d see, there had to have been closer to five or six hundred. Maybe because it was the weekend?

Most interesting to me were the guided visually-impaired runners I saw out there. I think there must’ve been a planned event for them since there were so many — probably a couple dozen. In addition to the legitimately impaired there were a number of pairs of runners (guide and guided) where the latter was not impaired, but was wearing a mask to simulate. That’d be interesting to be sure — guided to run completely unable to see where your feet are going and what obstacles might be in the way. I’m not sure I have the onions to give it a whirl.

I studiously avoided them, and hit the single track that parallels the road. It definitely is the road less traveled. I only encountered six others while I could see through the trees where dozens and dozens were on a parallel heading on the road.

Later, run done, I decided to go back to the park, sit on a bench, channel my inner Frenchman and have a bit of baguette and read. I was minding my own business, reading and watching the people go by when I was accosted for my groceries.

Here’s what happened. I was sitting on a bench reading when an unruly dude approached and started pawing at my bag. I scared him off, but he kept coming back. Cheeky bugger wouldn’t take no for an answer. Cute though.

After running and fending off a determined, yet felonious, Sciurus rodent, I walked along the route of the Pride event. Holy Exist and Resist, Batman, people’s Freak Flags were flying. So many people living their best life, judgement by others be damned. It was a sight to see. So, of course, I took a few photos and videos.