Something Mysterious

I have been called an idiot. I have been called crazy, and well some have even declared me to be Forest Gump. Running is not mainstream-at least my kind of running. Something has truly dawned on me over this past marathon experience and current recovery time. I love this sport. I love running. I have even come to the point where I enjoy the gut wrenching, stomach heaving workouts. It is now easy to embrace the frigid waters of an ice bath.

There is something so soothing about running. Something so startlingly independent, that it forces you to review yourself and take stock at who you have become each time you step foot out the door. You can only imagine you are running with the lead group so many times at the Olympics before your mind drives itself into self healing mode.

That is why it is so interesting to hear from so many people about how they could never do what I, or so many others do, and that is run. What is stopping people? Has the air outside become unbreathable? Will martians zap you from space if you elect to step outside your door for a few miles? Egads, could someone even see you without makeup, trendy clothes, or maybe even see you moving slowly and suffering if you took the risk to go for a run?

Our society has sadly not embraced the ideals of running, and in particular, distance running. When the Olympics are on we glue ourselves to the TV to watch a few guys run 100 meters in less than 10 seconds, that is about all we can handle. Sometimes, a select few will watch guys run a mile, or maybe even a little more if there is a pit of water and immovable hurdles to be jumped over. Sadly when the events get above 5k, most people just tune out.

What is sad is that most of society fail to realize that they could experience everything those elite runners are doing, just simply not on a huge stage. Who does not wrestle with self doubt? What person can say that they fear not completing something. Who does not struggle with being embarrassed for taking a risk? So to say that you could never be like "those" people is not true, chance are, you are much more like them than you think.

Would it not be great if instead of talking to others about running, you would hear, "Wow that's great that you are doing that, Hmmm, maybe I will get out and run to the end of the street tomorrow and see how that goes?" Could it even be possible we see culture reshaped by people stepping out of norms and risking it to go for a run? Why there could even spring new relationships and opportunities for community if people left the stair master, or their couch, and went out for a jog with friends. Running is more than a love for me, it is a passion, and who doesn't wish to see that which they are passionate about play out in the lives of others? Meanwhile I am going to go for a run, and imagine taking Haile Gebressalessie (I will never spell that right) to the line, well at least for a little bit.