Friday, January 23, 2009

A Most Enjoyable Run

ORN: 3.1 miles, 32:34, R3/W1, 10:31/mile

This morning’s run was something special.

Not that the run itself was remarkable; a very humble (though pain-free) three miler.

But it showed much of why I enjoy running.

You see, this week has been hectic. Four of my five work days have been 16-18 hours long. The tension, particularly yesterday, has been very real. Not bad tension; we’re grappling with some very good problems to have. Yet it has been long and intense and draining.

Wednesday night, as a meeting moved well past 10pm, I said to myself “I gotta get out and run tomorrow.” But that meeting motored well past 11 and it was midnight before I could get to bed, exhausted. Thursday night’s event continued past 10pm again, but this time I said “I don’t care; I’m up and running on Friday morning.”

So I did. Into a relatively balmy 36F morning, with the wind-chills oh-so-comfortable at 20F, I walked out the door. And as I quickly fell into the routine on my favorite Cumberland Woods route, I thought about why I find running so enjoyable.

The quiet. The time alone. The steady pat-pat-pat of feet. The winter morning dark which cuts out most other distractions. The repetition of a consistent pattern.

I don’t worship running. But I do find it a spiritual discipline, a regular practice in which I can reflect, pray, contemplate more important things. All of which happened this morning in a special way.

Persevere.

7 comments:

Mir said...

Pooh on all that overtime. But if it's "good" problems, than hopefully it will be worth it. Glad you got out for your run; that makes it all better!

Backofpack said...

Exactly.

Anonymous said...

Amen!

IronWaddler said...

Nothing like a good run to bring peace to a hectic life. Glas that you got it in!

Bob A said...

Well said.

Darrell said...

It is a nice diversion from all the craziness.

Unknown said...

Glad to hear you got out for a run. They are special indeed under those circumstances. I was thinking to myself, I know that I have read and commented on this before, but I think it was on FB. Oh well, another comment never hurts.