Two Reasons to Carry a Camera When I Run

I went for a run late this morning. Training for a half-marathon that's coming up at the end of March.

Running in zero-degree weather isn't my idea of a rollicking good time, but pride (I've publicized my athletic intention to family and friends) and vanity (mini movements leftward on the scale) are great motivators. Plus, I've already paid 35 Euros ($45) to be at the start line—I hate to waste money.

Two things made me glad I ventured out, and regret that I don't make a habit of carrying my camera anymore. The first happened five minutes into my run.

Stromovka Park—a block away from my apartment in Holesovice—when covered in fresh snow is gorgeous to behold. (Stromovka means “Place of Trees”.) Apparently, we had gotten some snow earlier in the morning. Trees, plain and brown during past runs, were now powdered white and adorned with ice crystals. The scene sparkled; the air was light and crisp. A small wind blew specks of snow off branches; I got a cool dusting on my face, and I just felt so happy and alive and grateful.

“Wow, I want to share this experience! Why not blog it? It would be a nice way to return to posting. But wait, no picture? Darn, that would be a letdown, dontcha think? Maybe you should turn back to go get your camera. Oh man...”

Once I get into a run turning back is hard; plus, I don't trust myself—I could get home and find an excuse not to return. (Facebook, anyone?!) So, sorry I have no picture to show of my moment being at one with nature.

Thirty five minutes later, then I really wanted to kick myself for not turning back for the camera—because how often do I go out for a Sunday run and half-way through find myself being ferried across the Vltava River in a sailboat?

Here's how it happened: on a whim I decided to silently trail another runner. His route took us out of the park into the streets of Bubenec, past bus stops and nondescript rows of apartment buildings. Definitely nothing transcendent was going to happen for me on this stretch. When the guy made a beeline for his building I continued ahead until I hit a highway. To my left, cars and buses speeding past; to my right, the Vltava River; and across the river, the Prague Zoo in Troja.

One of the things I enjoy doing on runs is to see how far I can go along one side of the river until I find a way to get to the other and end up with a nice loop back home. So far I've found one connecting route—a rarely used bridge next to what I think is a water treatment plant. (Can't you just smell the roses?)

As I ran on the highway today, I wondered how and when I would find a way across, or if (already dreading the uninspiring landscape) I would have to turn around and head back the way I came. And voila, down by the river bank, a dinghy! A plain, small boat that takes people across the river, and you just pay with a standard bus-metro ticket. Sweet!

All smiles and happily violating my “Keep running unless you're about to pass out”, “Don't get in any water vessel without a life vest” rules, I joined a woman and her two children in the boat.

For someone who had recently come to bemoan the lack of novelty in her days, the two-minute boat ride to Troja was a welcome “adventure”.

"This is so cool and quirky! How many people know about this boat? And what's it called? The Prague Dinghy? Damn, I really should have brought my camera!...”

We've still got the whole month of February to get through, so there could be more snowy runs in Stromovka and a chance to get some nice shots. And something tells me I'll be back on the dinghy for another ferry across the river. :)

Cauky.