I wrote a post on a one of my earlier blogs about the running I do and the role it plays in my life. At that time, I had no kids and my life was much less than it is now. The different role running played in my life then, as compared to now, astonishes me.
Taking a cue from Susan Morgan, I thought I would try to revisit this theme and play it out here. Starting a new section to write in is a daunting task, but I feel it’s important to look at this a little closer. My only time to run now is early, before the house wakes up. In this house, that’s pretty early, so I am waking up the world when I am out on the trails or roads. It’s serene to witness the deer scatter as they hear me coming, or watch the steam rise out of the ponds on the golf courses. It’s as if I have a whole day to myself before I begin the one that is shared by so many people. And it always readies me for what that day will bring.
I used to live in Morris County, and I would run early in the morning, before the world was awake. What I remember from those runs are the smells: cut grass, coffee brewing, garbage trucks; and the sounds: mostly of my own feet tapping the macadam. Now I have to run on busier, hillier streets so I’m more aware of what I see, and I miss the more sensual runs I used to take in Morris County. But this morning, as I was running up a grueling Sparta hill, the sun was swelling to an orangey pink and it was just me and the road: the most sacred part of my day.
At one stage of my life I ran, at another I went to the gym and lifted weights. Now I blog – the endorphins that come from the physical exercise have left me and I think I’m the worse for it. I need to reestablish a place for exercise in my life. I’ve been reading John Medina’s Brain Rules and his first rule discusses the importance of exercise in getting our brains to function at a higher level. Your description of the early morning run where you can take in the wonders of our world left me wanting that experience too. Thanks – needed this message.
Jenny Luca.
Laura,
Your comment reminds me of one of the best runs I ever had a few years back. I woke up unbelievably early one morning and headed up to Stokes State Forest with the intention of running for a long time. It was still dark when I got there, so I put on my headlamp and set out from the trailhead off of Deckertown Turnpike. I grew up running in High Point State Park, but never hiked or anything in neighboring Stokes, so I had very little to go on other than a trail map from the Ranger Station. Needless to say, about an hour into the run, I realized I was totally lost–on a trail and climbing uphill, but lost nonetheless. Eventually I hit pavement and realized that I must be near the top of Sunrise Mountain. I decided to head over the dojo-looking structure they have at the summit. Looking out over the valley below, all of the clouds were sitting atop the trees below and it was as if I could walk across them right from where I stood. No visible features of the homes, the trees, the fields, the farms, or any visible evidence of habitation could be seen. Just clouds, an emerging sun, and the rocks I stood on.
I turned off my stopwatch, grabbed a seat and just took it all in for a while. The world was waking up, and I was watching.
An early morning run without traffic and in the wilderness is why being a teacher is great. All summer long there are many opportunities to disappear into rural spots and enjoy running with trees on either side of you.
Thanks for this post. Makes me want summer to reappear again…. but will survive the long cold winter here waiting for the shorts to come out again.
Thanks for responding to my post. It really is not about the teacher, but these faces before us.
Glad to see you hitting the running route. I am an avid cycling racer and USCF coach. Keep training and enjoying the efforts!