Saturday morning I woke up at 4:30am to eat a snack – went through my routine – and we were on the road by 5:30am to start running at 6:00am.
A few of us had planned to meet up and start the process of mapping out the 0 SPF 1/2 Marathon course. When we stepped out of our warm cars we were greeted by a blast of cold and a wind chill of about 3 degrees.
We were about to go run on some fresh snow on trails in the pitch black in arctic like temps.
Time after time after time I am asked “why” I do this.
If these photos below from Ben Murphy Don’t explain it – Maybe my words will
Climbing into the sunrise
Letting my mind wander up top at Woodcliff
Not everyone handles life and its complex pile of emotions the same way. Some people hold it in. Some people respond with bitter resentment. Some people ask “why me”. Others still pray to God in silence, while some people call every person they can imagine and rehash the same story time and time again in an effort to feel better.
Others still turn to food to drink to drugs.
I run.
Simply put – It gets me through things. I have never once put running as THE most important thing in my life – but it is one of the most important for sure.
Saturday morning, with the wind whipping – the trails rolling – and my friends climbing and descending I was able to find some peace. I was able to take a minute and just say thanks.
Thanks for the opportunity to do this.
Thanks for all of the opportunities I have had in the past.
Thanks for the memories that have been created over the years.
Thanks for all of the wonderful people and things in my life.
When I run – I can focus on the positive and that is refreshing.
I run.
I do not need to say these things out loud on a daily basis – I do not need to cry with friends or family members – The people who need to know - they know. Life is never simple – People are never simple.
Running is.
It is my escape. It is my drug – my food – my drink- my cry – my bitterness – my rehashing – my conversation – my prayer time.
People do not get that – Often I find because these people do not even want to get that. Everyone is different. Everyone handles stress and emotion with a way that is personal and right to them.
I run.
And that is more than enough for me.
