on independence day no less, i ran for the first time on my own, away from the office. no one was there to motivate me other than myself. i can't remember ever running on my own.

it was quite an experience running in belmont. although i still live in belmont, my childhood home, i haven't traveled most of these streets since graduating from high school. it was quite a nostalgic run, as i went by places i must've passed a hundred times as a kid growing up in the town. because of the holiday, traffic was light and there wasn't a lot of people on the sidewalks. most of the people i saw were gathered in their backyards, sitting on lawn chairs, the smell of barbecued food permeating the air. summer holidays in the suburbs. sigh.

i ran about 3 miles (i can't be sure). i think this run was more challenging because there were hills (versus the charles river run, which is pretty much flat). when i got home i immediately ran to the fridge to grab a cold soda, and i walked around the backyard to cool off, although it didn't really help as i still felt my blood churning inside my body. i then took a lukewarm shower and that seemed to do the trick. i sat in my fan-cooled room wearing a towel sarong, water still dripping from my body, drinking another can of soda, enjoying that post-run euphoria.

so that was my 4th of july. besides playing massive hours of diablo 2 expansion, watching the red sox spank the indians, and eating half a bag of salt & vinegar potato chips. originally i was scheduled to see the fireworks down at the esplanade, but 1) i think it's going to be too crowded, 2) fireworks won't be until 10pm, and 3) it might rain and the fireworks will be postponed to tomorrow.