Puddle of Mud?

    Actually, it was more of a mixture that resembled mud, wet clay, and sludge.  Whatever it was, determining the composition isn't as entertaining as how I ended up covered in it. Let's start from the beginning.
    This morning was quite nice out: partly sunny, fairly warm, and almost all the snow had melted (a sign that spring is actually coming?).  So having nothing to do on a Friday morning (naturally), I had an urge to go enjoy the weather by going for a run.
    I took my usual route, starting by going up Mayfield Avenue.  About a minute into my run I arrived at the railroad underpass.  This is where the mud/whatever was located.  Every time I have run this route in the past, the underpass and sidewalk has been dry and I have had no problems.  Today however, due to melting snow or recent rains, the dirt that is normally under this bridge was this thick, nasty, gunky, mud mixture.  I slowed down to a walk, I swear (I have seen multiple times before people almost slip and fall in this mess).  Anyway, luck wasn't on my side this morning and apparently I wasn't going slow enough.
    "The coefficient of friction between you and substance was tiny, and so you slipped and fell on your bum," said Mr. Shiffrin.  Actually, he didn't say that.  But I'm sure he would have.  He probably would have also included some scathing insult about my foolishness. Or my mother.  It could have gone either way.
    Sorry to get off track, but what I'm trying to say is that this spill was grandiose.  I covered myself in the grey substance from about chest down.  Awesome.
    I now had to face a decision: walk back to the dorms wet and embarrassed or continue with my run (still very wet, but somehow not so embarrassed).  I chose the latter.  But before I continued my run, I found a nice dry patch of grass and rolled around in it, trying to get as much of the stuff off me as possible.  I'm sure this looked absolutely ridiculous to any passerby who happened to see it.
    After getting back up, I proceeded with my run, looking like a mud covered aborigines that couldn't make it to the bathroom in time.  The rest of the run was nothing special (I ended up running only half of it because I was too cold running around all wet) but the looks I got from people were priceless.
    I returned to my dorm and used up about half a bar of soap to wash all the mud off of me.  Then, having a bunch of wet and filthy clothes, I decided to do the laundry a day early.
    Anyway, moral of the story is that you shouldn't try running through nasty gunk.  And if by chance you happen to slip and become covered in said gunk, at least make the most of it and continue running.  You were going to get gross and sweaty during your run anyway, so what harm will a little bit of hazardous radioactive industrial sludge do?  Plus, people's weird looks as you run by them make it totally worth it.