Too Many Cookie

I leave early today at 6 and skies are overcast. After parking at the Strand, I begin with a 7 mile run through the harbor. I feel like maybe that huge chocolate chip cookie last night was one chocolate chip cookie too many. However I doubt that will stop me next time (maybe tonight). Sunday is my weekly cookie and ice cream night, but last night I somehow felt compelled to celebrate early. I picked up some cookies from Crumble, which is a trendy cookie establishment in San Clemente that sells overpriced but very delicious cookies.

I must say that I like the cookies they sell at Sprouts more and not just because they are cheaper. Today during my weekly grocery shopping, I was pulling a few out of the self serve cookie case and someone nearby asked if they were good. After getting over the very profanity of the question itself, I calmly stated that “yes they were very good. They are kind of my favorite.” I had to consciously exercise restraint in my language and force a subtle tone. Otherwise I might embarrass myself with contorted facial expressions, an inappropriately raised volume and god only knows what words might fall from my mouth. I might speak of entering the center of the cookie where one becomes lost it what may seem like an ocean of butter. I might try to articulate the disorientation that overtakes one’s sense of taste when the self drops, naked, suddenly, into the creamy rich and soft chocolate chips. What even is a chocolate chip? Can we pretend to have the audacity to know?

Oh goodness.

I finish up the run and change into my swim trunks. The sky is still overcast and looking like it is going to stay that way for a while. On the stairs I can hear voices in the distance and it is the Dana Outrigger crew way out past the surf. It surprises me that I can hear them all the way from here. I can’t make out the words but I can definitely hear them shouting.

It’s just beginning to come down from a 5 foot high tide. The surf is practically nonexistent except for some occasional shore break. The waves break right on the sand and come all the way to the rocks. It looks like I can make it to my spot given I am dressed to get wet.

I speak with a woman at the edge of the ramp for a bit talking about sand and rocks - a hot topic here.

I walk to my usual spot and throw my pack up a little higher than normal to avoid getting wet.

I walk into the water, pass the initial dip and then start swimming. It’s too deep to walk to the sand bar today.

The water feels good as it usually does when I run immediately prior to the swim. Yesterday Surfline must have tapped the thermometer and updated its temperature reading to 57 degrees which feels about what we have here.

I’m trying to just lose myself in the water. On the northern leg as I gaze toward the horizon, it is just a single grey canvas. The water is smooth and below the surface it looks like a misty blue/grey. It is pretty cloudy and I can’t make out the floor at all today.

Toward the end of the swim, I am feeling exhausted. My arms were pretty fatigued after yesterday’s swim and I am just feeling totally spent. I even pause a couple times in the final 5 minute push just to rest for a few seconds.

I finally touch ground practically right in front of my backpack. I grab it and head for the shower near the bathrooms at the base of the stairs. I rinse off and put on a couple layers for the walk to the car. I change into regular clothes which takes more effort than one might think. I grab my coffee at Starbucks and head to church. By some miracle I manage to stay awake through the entire sermon.