April 10th is the Worldwide WordPress 5km.
The good folks who run WordPress—the Automatticians—work in offices all over the world. I suppose that makes water cooler chats and office parties logistically challenging. To combat the solitary nature of their work (and get some exercise at the same time), the Automatticians decided to embark on a group run. I joined the virtual event and took my dog to Green Lake.
My starting point
One loop around the lake is 3.1 miles (5 kilometers). So I didn’t have to measure, count, or otherwise figure out how far to run. Disclaimer: When I “run” with my dog, we stop a lot. His raison d’être is marking his territory. And with the ratio of dogs to people at Green Lake being about one-to-one, he had a lot of dogs to keep up with—and a lot of territory to cover, so to speak.
Slowing down to smell the roses
It was a blustery day, which thinned out the crowds a bit. Green Lake is the stomping grounds to many a cyclist, roller blader, soccer player, dog walker, and runner, and not even rain keeps everyone away.
Mama duck and her babies
I got to break in a new pair of running shoes today. I bought them so I could stay in shape this summer, but I have to admit: I’m not the sporty type. I exercise because I have to, and I wear exercise clothing for the same reason. To me, exercise wear belongs in a gym—or on someone who is actually running. Normally, to walk my dog, I’d wear ballet flats, some sort of flat boot, or even comfy wedges. I’ve walked the entire path at Green Lake in cute strappy 3″ wedges and was no worse for wear.
Today was an experiment. I realize now that I can’t wear this type of outfit in public. I felt like I’d let myself go—that I’d given up on style. The Nike shoes were comfortable, and I liked how they had solid color-blocking and not too many embellishments. Most of the time athletic shoes are clunky, busy, and jarring to look at. I didn’t mind these. But the next time I wear them will be for playing tennis or running stairs.
At the finishing line across from the lake
Hoodie: Nordstrom
Top: Express
Pants: Bebe Sport
Scarf: DIY
Shoes: Nike
Bag: Target
I’m glad I got out and got some exercise and fresh air. It was fun knowing that at least 80 Automatticians and many blog owners were doing the same thing in different places around the world. Next time, though, I’ll be me—and dress the part.
How do you feel about active wear as casual wear? Do you wear yoga pants to the mall? Tennis shoes to work?
Finally, in honor of National Poetry Month, a poem:
Sailing To Byzantium
~ William Butler Yeats
I
That is no country for old men. The young
In one another’s arms, birds in the trees
—Those dying generations—at their song,
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
Fish, flesh, or fowl commend all summer long
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Monuments of unaging intellect.
II
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
For every tatter in its mortal dress,
Nor is there singing school but studying
Monuments of its own magnificence;
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
To the holy city of Byzantium.
III
O sages standing in God’s holy fire
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
Consume my heart away; sick with desire
And fastened to a dying animal
It knows not what it is; and gather me
Into the artifice of eternity.
IV
Once out of nature I shall never take
My bodily form from any natural thing,
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
Of hammered gold and gold enamelling
To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;
Or set upon a golden bough to sing
To lords and ladies of Byzantium
Of what is past, or passing, or to come.
jeanofalltrades 