West Wind

I had a most extraordinary run today!  The wind had changed overnight to a west wind, close to 15 mph, and it was really stirring up the Sound.  I could feel it in my face as I started out, but I did not realize how strong it was until I got on the boardwalk, in the vicinity of Aqua restaurant, and started back north in a homeward direction.  There were whitecaps on the Sound, and in this place the Boardwalk is close to the water; I realized that water was splashing up against the wall to the right of me, and also from the sound itself, left and right, drenching the Boardwalk as I ran from both sides.  Exhilarating!

I tried to gauge when the spray across the boardwalk was the strongest, and then I would sprint a little and to try to minimize how much I was being drenched by sound-water (I brought only one pair of running shoes with me and wanted to keep them dry).

Suddenly, I was astonished to see (and feel) water splashing upward through the Boardwalk in front of me, pushed forcefully through the cracks between the boards!  It reminded me of running through a summer lawn sprinkler when I was a little boy.  I realized that in the countless training runs and races that I have recklessly completed, I have gotten wet from above on many occasions.  I have also gotten wet from the side in horizontal wind-driven rain, sometimes straight into my face (most memorably during the inaugural OBX Marathon of 2006).

But this was the first time I think I have ever gotten wet from below, a truly unique experience!