You are so right! That Is a Selfie-in-a-Bathroom. And in a Public Bathroom. No, worse, it’s in a very spartan Public Bathroom in a park, sporting a metal (so less vandalisable than glass) mirror.
Why, why, and why, you might justifiably ask? Well, in the interests of honesty about running post 50 (oh, who’re we kidding here, I’m a well-over-60 runner). . . especially for running over 50 (I know, 60, but I’m trying to be inclusive, right?) when you’ve had a baby or four sit on your bladder for months at a time. . . Sometimes a runner has to find a toilet en route. And sometimes she has to find one relatively quickly. Sometimes she even plans her route to make sure one will be accessible.
In light of my recent posts on badassery (and how I have very little of said attribute), I thought perhaps you should know this. I don’t think you can be a Badass Runner if you have to plot your marathons according to toilets. . . . On the other hand, the sheer audacity of snapping my red-faced, sweaty self in a mirror, in a public bathroom, that might earn me a Badass point or two, no?
And now, to make up for that spectacle, some more edifying photos, all taken on recent city runs. . . These seem to multiply in my digital photo albums, and I need to share some before clearing them out. . .
This welcome pole by carver Darren Yelton refers to a centuries-old one that would once have graced a longhouse in Senakw, a First Nations village that was forcibly “moved” just over a century ago. Tragic irony. . .
This industrial building is on a new-to-me running route. I love the sturdy regularity of its very practical architecture, boldly complemented by these tables on the adjoining sidewalk, placed out for workers’ coffee or lunch or smoke breaks. That green!
Is management doubting whether the colour still works this century? Is that why they’ve let the fading progress to this degree? Whatever, I love the patina almost as much as I find the colour. . . um, compelling? arresting? jarring? Wonderful?!
And just around the corner, in the clean morning light. . .
Does it perhaps seem that along with my bathroom breaks, I’m stopping surprisingly often on these runs to snap a photo or two?
You might be right. . . .
But I’m not trying to break any speed records, and there is just so much beauty in such varied, fascinating forms once you start looking around. . . .I can’t resist sharing some of it. These back racks, for example. Yes, they’re just utilitarian, but the sweet curve of their metal arcs pleases me and seems worth remarking. . .
And really, it’s so much better to look at than a Selfie-in-a-Public-Bathroom, no?
Well,when you'll visit me,you would have to make some veeeery careful planning-my solution when runnining errands is coffee house,of course! But how many coffee breaks could a runner make?
I like the photos very much and prefer selfie-in-a-bathroom 🙂
Dottoressa
That's my perennial problem on city vacations, not only in running but especially when we're walking all day — how to plan the physics and math of the coffee/wine-toilet ratio. . . ;-)!
That green reminds me of the Caribbean. I saw a lot of it on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. (And the patina, too.)
Interesting! I've never been to Caribbean, but I can imagine how much different this colour would be in tropical light surrounded by colourful plants and rich foliage. It doesn't seem as comfortable in our much greyer marine climate here, but it does wake us up! 😉
Oh I love that green… all the better for being chipped and faded. When I was a kid, my grandfather painted everything that wasn't moving a deep green. Mum said he once bought a whole wack of green house paint on sale. His sons, my uncles, knew that if a tool had a green handle it belonged to Grampy. But one uncle used to swear that Grampy would appear at a job site, take a tool of my uncle's home and paint it green…thus proving it had belonged to him all along. I love that story. I think that one day I'll have to write a post about my grandfather.
By the way… I always plot my extended walks according to the availability of outhouses… or private clearings where one can take a "nature break" as they call it in the Tour de France:)
Your grandfather sounds absolutely wonderful, and I do think he deserves at least a post!
On our hike a few weeks ago, there were no facilities at all, of course, on the side of the mountain, and the hike taking several hours, of course I needed some relief. You can see why adventurous women of old lauded the value of a good thick skirt, at least for that purpose, although my shorts were better for scrambling up the rocks. . .
How far do you run each day?
When planning your new route did you use an app to figure out how far that you run?
BTW you look very trim and toned I am very envious…my walking obviously needs to be ramped up.
Lovely scenery…
I don't run daily, L.. I generally try for 3 or 4 runs per week, the shorter ones about 9 or 10km, with one long weekend run of 15 or more.
However, I'm being careful right now because I was overdoing it in combo with the cycling and with a paucity of stretching. I think your approach is a wise one. . .
Continued thanks for sharing your urban photos. We saw the welcome pole on one of our biking excursions and noted the irony. I too usually plan walking/biking routes based on the availability of bathrooms and have also become quite expert at scoping out likely places! I am impressed with your running ability as I stick to walking.
You're very welcome, Beth, and I'm really good you enjoy them.
Also glad you cycled that route which I think is a great one to get a sense of our city.
See my comment above to Hostess — there's much to be said for walking, really. . . .
After years of Days Out with my mother and her three sisters when I was young , I know where every Ladies' Room is in Britain !
Much more useful than the London cabbies' Knowledge! 😉
I'm so impressed that you have already figured out how to chart the bathrooms on your route! 🙂 Admittedly, I don't often stop on my walk to work, but I know every available bathroom in the downtown core of TO!
My sister (the one who runs with me often) carries a Starbucks card primarily so she can always use their washrooms. And she's added to my city knowledge, contributing hotel bathrooms (hint: just look like a guest who's gone out for a run) 😉
Hey, do you think there's a marketing opportunity for a guidebook or an app for various tourist cities?