trial run

i went running for the first time since my ankle injury this summer. i waited until night fall, and after the bell rang for the kids class. yes, they have class until 9:50 at night. i expected the school track to be empty, but figures moved around the gloom slowly. the smog (or fog, as google weather would have you believe) gives everything a spooky aspect.

as i ran, my nostrils began to burn. the whole time i worried whether if it was an effect of the smog or me not running for 3 months. i decided it was the lack of exercise (fingers crossed).

older women walked slowly doing arm exercises. there were a few couple walking around in the romantic atmosphere of the...uh...track. there were a few toddlers being chaperoned around by grandparents.

soon a music class came out and sat on the grass inside the track. they lit candles and began singing happy birthday in chinese. after that they sang other chinese songs i didn't know, and their singing added to the otherworldly mood.

as i went around, i began to ponder the strange figure i was cutting. hawaiian print board shorts (no one was wearing shorts, least of all hawaiian print), t-shirt (no t-shirts either, too cold) and an ipod. ruining their wonderful evening off in my own world pounding down the track, breathing like a shuddering air conditioner. i hope they don't really feel that way. i hope they just think, "silly waiguoren."

ps--i returned to find my apartment lacking hot water, or warm water, or cool water. everything but freezing water. the problem should be fixed by monday. luckily, i love cold water.