The day of my very first training after joining the Bearly Runners finally arrived! We confidently set out for Oleta River Park with Sister Kim's family. But as soon as we hit the highway, raindrops started falling, quickly turning into a heavy downpour. Ding. A WhatsApp message popped up: "For safety reasons due to thunderstorms, today's meetup is canceled."
We were already two-thirds of the way north, and it felt like a waste to just turn back. We rerouted to a nearby Krispy Kreme instead. Staring blankly at the donuts being made for the first time in a while, we enjoyed the rainy day vibe with freshly made hot donuts and coffee. Since we were already up there, we swung by Haulover Park—where we did the 'Pelican Run' yesterday, and a place holding special memories for Sister Kim—before finally heading home.
"Should we go to the 7 Mile Bridge in Key West and run?"
A sudden bombshell from my husband, Director Lee. I hesitated, thinking, That's a good three-hour drive from here... but before I could say anything, he declared, "If there are no other opinions, I'll assume we're going!" and slammed on the gas. Just like that, our destination instantly flipped to the southern tip of Florida.
On the way down to the Keys, we stopped at Robbie's in Islamorada. We fed the tarpons—massive fish easily over a meter long. In the midst of it all, a cheeky pelican swooped in and snatched a fish. Even cute nurse sharks gathered around, making funny "chup chup" sounds as they ate. It was fascinating to see such friendly-looking sharks eating right alongside the giant tarpons.
We bought mango ice pops (which are so refreshing on hot days, they have basically become our ritual) and went down under the Old 7 Mile Bridge. Looking out at the open ocean, we ate cup noodles and drank sweet instant coffee. It was the perfect picnic; we couldn't have asked for anything more.
With our stomachs full, it was time to actually run. We went up to the 7 Mile Bridge. There were distance markers every 0.1 miles, which made the run really fun. Thanks to the rain, the bridge was completely empty, giving us a wonderful sense of freedom as if we had rented the whole place out. It was a 4-mile round trip, touching the small village at the end of the broken bridge (they charge an entrance fee, so we just took a quick look) and turning back.
On the way back, however, the thunderstorm returned, and the rain lashed down heavily. Rainwater was literally getting into my ears! But thanks to the rain, our pace actually picked up. It was an adrenaline-pumping "rain run." My shoes soaked up the water and squished with every step, and rain poured constantly from my hat, shirt, and pants.
We made it back to the car, but we were way too soaked to get in. We had to go back under the bridge, wring out our clothes, and warm our freezing bodies with a cup of hot coffee while waiting for the rain to stop. Looking out at the rainy ocean, even the horizon was completely erased by the weather.
Once the rain eased up, we stopped by the Veterans Memorial free beach, located just past the 7 Mile Bridge on the left, to use the restroom. It was a cozy, peaceful spot. I even saw a red-winged blackbird there, which was so cool!
Finally, it was time to genuinely head home. We stopped at Cracker Barrel for dinner. Walking into a heavily air-conditioned restaurant in completely soaked clothes made my body shiver like a leaf. Only after chugging hot water and putting warm food in my stomach did I start to calm down. Sister Kim's family coolly treated us to dinner!
We got home at 9 PM. Showered, threw all the wet clothes in the laundry, and by 11 PM... I passed out on the bed. Nothing went according to plan, but that's exactly why it was such a dynamic, perfect, and unforgettable day!
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