Writing Samples

Getting in shape takes time
by Kevin Dowler

Swimming in a cool pond splashing the water with a submerging kick I send myself down into the sunlit water.

The bottom of the pond is covered in long swaying lake weeds that reach for my arms as I try to stop my descent.

They take hold of my arms and cling further to my torso pulling me into their grasp.

I struggle, trying to free myself, lungs bursting and the air finally bubbles out and rushes to the surface as I make my last attempts to free myself.

Suddenly the light is blinding and I struggle with the sheets binding me and twisted around my head.

It’s light out and I have stolen the blankets from my wife, again.

I sit up untwisting the last sheet from my legs.

I’ve overslept, the sun is up and I am still in bed, my boss will slaughter me.

Hopping out of bed, stumbling in the sheets on the floor, I grab the alarm clock before my knees crash into the bedside table.

6:58 it glows into my face. No I am not late, the sun is early. A sure sign of spring.

Standing up for the second time in one day I turn off the alarm clock and kick the sheet back onto the bed. I go to the window to inspect the weather for the day.

Today is the day I am to run my annual jog.

The sun, only barely risen, has not yet had the chance to burn off the morning frost from the window. A good sign to start jogging tomorrow.

But the alarm was set to get me out of a warm, comfortable bed into a flashy jogging suit and out into the morning for a rejuvenating jog.

After a few thoughts of joining my wife back in bed, the morning wins me over and I prepare for my annual jog.

I say annual because every spring I seem to get all worked up about getting in shape for summer.

But the excitement only lasts as far as a buying spree at a sports store and one or two short jogging trips.

I’m a fit guy, you see, and only require, a few short yearly jogging trips to stay in shape.

My favorite part is getting the outfits.

My first attempt at jogging this year was cancelled due to slippery footing which was remedied by a special pair of snow jogging shoes.

My second attempt was cancelled due to a cold nose, which was also remedied by purchasing a special winter jogger’s mask.

My friendly sporting store salesman quickly spotted a sucker for gadgets and sold me a matching wind, rain, sleet and snowproof jogging suit and threw in a glow in the dark arm band.

Not that I ever plan to jog in the dark.

And so I donned my velcro sealed jogging suit and snow joggers and walked triumphantly to the hallway mirror.

I looked more like a nuclear reactor worker than a jogger, so I tried jogging in place to see if the suit moved properly before going on a test run.

A few tight spots, but not too bad, if not by being chased by the neighborhood dogs I would be sure to get better miles to the jogging shoes with my aerodynamic winter jogging suit.

Tying my shoes one final time, checking that each eyelet has the same pressure to ensure proper circulation, I remember’ the kettle which is now filling the kitchen with hot steam.

Slipping on the kitchen floor in my snow joggers I manage to grasp the counter for stability while fixing a quick cup of tea wearing my special jogger’s gloves.

With a hot cup of tea in hand I skate my way off the kitchen floor onto the living room’s carpet.

After another quick glance at myself in the mirror I take a seat on the couch to listen to the morning news while I have my tea.

Managing a few knee stretches through the latest reports on Beirut I notice how warm the apartment has become.

Slick with sweat I finish my tea and get up to begin my annual jog.

After a final equipment check I make my way to the door only to be intercepted by my wife.

“Have you been for your jog yet?” she asks.

Wiping the sweat from my brow and feeling the warmth of my flushed cheeks from sitting in the house wearing my winter jogging suit I glance out the window one last time.

“No, it’s too warm out,” I say, tearing open the velcro front of the jogging suit. “This suit is only for below zero jogging.”

She smiles smugly knowing about my jogging history.

So with this year’s annual jog cancelled, the third in a row, I must spend my summer fishing or sunbathing since I didn’t prepare myself by jogging along an exhaust filled highway for the more physical types of summer sports.