I was finally able to do a flat outdoors run today, with the operative word being “flat”.  This required me to run in circles around my neighborhood because, surprisingly, very little in Southern California is actually flat.  But, it didn’t matter to me in the slightest because I was running.  Outside.  With the sun shining on me, little kids running through sprinklers, and thoughts of popsicles running through my head – a typical summer run. Yay! Life has returned to (almost) normal!

The most important part of the above paragraph is the word popsicle.  Seriously.  When I run, especially when I race, I CRAVE popsicles.  Orange popsicles.  And those red, white and blue rocket popsicles – Bomb Pops.  And if those aren’t available, a cherry popsicle will do in a pinch.

So, since I was able to run outside today, I decided it was worth a drive to the store to get a popsicle in celebration.  I thought about it for at least the last 2 miles of my run (probably more, but I don’t want to seem obsessive).  I was so content with my popsicle thoughts, I only smiled at the three little boys who shot arrows at me from their front yard as I ran by, happy in my thoughts that summer was really here – and I was running.  And that I was moments away from icy goodness.

Then I got to the store.  There were shelves and shelves of ice cream, but only one freezer compartment for popsicle treats.  Hmmm… Isn’t it June in California?  Aren’t people craving icy sugar snacks?  I didn’t see any red, white and blue Bomb Pops, but there was a box of assorted fruit flavors.  I grabbed it, already planning to eat all the orange ones immediately. But then I saw the label on the front – sugar free.  SUGAR FREE!  Are you kidding me? I opened the freezer door again and perused the boxes.  Almost every single box was sugar free!! AGGGGGHHHHHHH!  Who eats sugar free popsicles? That is just crazy! Is everyone in Los Angeles diabetic? Do we really live in a world where all joy has been stripped from eating in our efforts to avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup?  Noooooooooooo! I object!

Finally, after spending 5 minutes with my head in the freezer (and since I was sweaty from my run will probably result in Pneumonia, not that I’m a hypochondriac or anything), I found one lone box of “regular” popsicles.  One.  And they were cherry/pineapple.  Not bad, but not orange, and surely not a red, white and blue Bomb Pop.

I was so disappointed, I only ate 3.  Sigh.

Happy Running!

Tagged as: popsicles, running outside, summer