Running Through the Ages

"Running, one might say, is basically an absurd past-time upon which to be exhausting ourselves. But if you can find meaning, in the kind of running you have to do to stay on this team, chances are you will be able to find meaning in another absurd past-time: Life."

Correr. To run.

So simple, yet so complex.

Flashback to when I was 10 years old. I remember my first 5k was The Great Race in Pittsburgh, PA. I remember that feeling of passing people and coming in first in my age group. From then on, I was hooked. From a young age, my dad never pressured me to run, but rather I pushed myself because I had discovered that with hard work and dedication, I could be great at something. Little did I know, running could bring me so much more than feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction and little did I know how big of a part of my life it would become.

As I aged through the years, running became my passion. It is my outlet when times are tough or the stress of life is getting to me. It is my social scene, as some of my best, most loyal friends are runners. It is my motivation to be the best I could be. And it brings me happiness-I can truly say that the happiest moments of my life have involved running.

Wherever I have gone, running has always been my constant-something I can do anytime, anywhere.

Since that race at age 10, I have been dedicated and competitive to be the best runner I can be. Yes, there have been a few setbacks with an injury here or a mental lapse there, but for the most part, my running has stayed competitive and fun. Even last year, my first year out of college, I was worried that I would have trouble adjusting to post collegiate running. But in Charlotte, the running groups and support from the community was amazing. I stayed in shape and even ran faster in a 5k this last July 4th road race than I had ever done in the past. Moving to Boulder, I was pumped and ready to train. I mean, Colorado is the runner's dream, right? Trails everywhere, runners everywhere. What more could you ask for?

And then it was gone.

As I began to live life in Boulder, it was as though I had been slapped in the face. Yes, there was the beauty and the trails, but where were all the training partners? I think I visited 4-5 different running stores to find groups like the ones I had been familiar with in the past. But it was to no avail. I found a few great training partners in Denver, but really, it is at least a 45 min drive one way every time I want to go on a run with them. In Boulder, it is almost as though people are privately coached or run recreationally-there is no middle ground. As the weeks went on, I began to notice myself straying from running and the dedication that I once had. I would run a few times a week, avoiding workouts like the plague. I would make up excuses, which I had never done in the past. I didnt race, for I didnt want to embarrass myself. I even decided to take off a full two weeks before I came home for Christmas. I had lost it, lost the passion that I once had, all because I didnt have the support and the training partners that I was used to.

And then it returned. Today of all days. On Christmas Day, I decided to head out on a run with my dad, the one person that had gotten me started in running. In 15 mph winds, rain, and freezing temps, I ran through the country hills of Chambersburg. I wont lie, the conditions were miserable for running and I felt horribly out of shape. But for some reason, I loved it. While running, it dawned on me, I missed running terribly. Most people would think we were insane, but conditions like today are ones that we, as runners, live for. When finished, we feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. It broke my heart to think that over the past month or two I had lost the passion for something that made me, to a large extent, who I am today.

Maybe the break is what I needed. For sometimes, you dont realize what you have or what joy something brings to you until it's gone. But today brought about a change in me. Running is back in my life and 2010 is going to be a year of PRs, no matter what I have to do. I will drive to Denver to run with training partners when I can, will make sacrifices, and will start racing again. Most importantly, I will not give up on this journey. For I need running and running needs me.
And I have miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep...


"Running is finally seeing everything in perspective. Running is discovering the wholeness, the unity that everyone seeks."