Running To or Running From?
Many of you know that I love to run. I am not a big time marathon runner, but I am a distance runner wannabe. I trained last year for a half marathon and blew my knee enough that I knew for me, 5k races and maybe a little more distance would be about perfect for me. Disappointed and distraught, I kept running, trotting... ok, trying to not fall while moving forward. I am classified as a happy runner.
Today something horrific happened to fellow runners, helpers, family members, and all of us, as Americans. Hearing about the bombing at the Boston Marathon my heart sank. Who in the world would want to hurt runners? Runners are pretty harmless, right? My mind was swimming as I remembered my precious neighbor who qualified and was thrilled to go to Boston to run. Pounding my keypad as quickly as I could, I found that he and his family were ok, but not everyone gets that peace today and it hurts my heart.
People fall in love with running for many reasons. Stories of why and how people began their jogging journey are as abundant and unique as the different types of running shoes available (my faves are purple, by the way). One reason I have heard time and time again and one reason I came back to running, is stress. Running is a great way to pound into the pavement the people with whom you are frustrated without really ever having to confront them at all. Running is a great way to have alone time with God. It's a great way to ward off guilt when you want a cupcake, a glass of wine, or simply want to stay in the clothes in your closet because you really can't afford to go on a shopping spree.
Running is great for your heart, your spirit, and your health (maybe not the knees so much). But when I was talking to a friend the other day, I said something that even surprised me. I said, "Sometimes I don't know if I'm running to, or running from." Being a reflective person, she said "That's an interesting statement, what do you mean?" I elaborated that when I run sometimes I feel like I'm escaping, running from the hard things I hear at work, the sadness that I know, the uncertainty that is life. I'm running from "You can't", "You are such", "You will never", "You aren't". I don't know that this is such a bad thing. But I'm also running to. Sometimes, well, a lot of times, I pray when I run. Sometimes I see myself running to God. I run to happy places. I run to memories of laughter, a knowledge of present peace, of "You are", "You can", "You will".
This may or may not make sense for anyone. If so, I'm glad. Seeing the runners on the TV at the Boston Marathon, I couldn't help but wonder how giddy they were at the start of this day. You have to qualify to run the Boston, so I imagine they were proud, excited, nervous, and in a "pinch me, I'm dreaming" state; especially the first timers. What were they running to? It wasn't just the finish line, I assure you.
For the horrific people or person responsible for taking the lives of the two (as of now) victims, one just reported being an 8 yr. old boy, the drive behind those runners, their families, and the helpers is greater than you can destroy. It has also been reported that many of the runners finished the 26.2 miles and ran to the hospital immediately to donate blood. They were running to: help, care, love, save.
My run is a piddly jog really, but there is so much soul searching in that time. I imagine there was soul searching beyond our imaginations today, before and after the bombing, but especially now. I imagine more people will be out running. Running to, and running from. Mostly running to.
Today something horrific happened to fellow runners, helpers, family members, and all of us, as Americans. Hearing about the bombing at the Boston Marathon my heart sank. Who in the world would want to hurt runners? Runners are pretty harmless, right? My mind was swimming as I remembered my precious neighbor who qualified and was thrilled to go to Boston to run. Pounding my keypad as quickly as I could, I found that he and his family were ok, but not everyone gets that peace today and it hurts my heart.
People fall in love with running for many reasons. Stories of why and how people began their jogging journey are as abundant and unique as the different types of running shoes available (my faves are purple, by the way). One reason I have heard time and time again and one reason I came back to running, is stress. Running is a great way to pound into the pavement the people with whom you are frustrated without really ever having to confront them at all. Running is a great way to have alone time with God. It's a great way to ward off guilt when you want a cupcake, a glass of wine, or simply want to stay in the clothes in your closet because you really can't afford to go on a shopping spree.
Running is great for your heart, your spirit, and your health (maybe not the knees so much). But when I was talking to a friend the other day, I said something that even surprised me. I said, "Sometimes I don't know if I'm running to, or running from." Being a reflective person, she said "That's an interesting statement, what do you mean?" I elaborated that when I run sometimes I feel like I'm escaping, running from the hard things I hear at work, the sadness that I know, the uncertainty that is life. I'm running from "You can't", "You are such", "You will never", "You aren't". I don't know that this is such a bad thing. But I'm also running to. Sometimes, well, a lot of times, I pray when I run. Sometimes I see myself running to God. I run to happy places. I run to memories of laughter, a knowledge of present peace, of "You are", "You can", "You will".
This may or may not make sense for anyone. If so, I'm glad. Seeing the runners on the TV at the Boston Marathon, I couldn't help but wonder how giddy they were at the start of this day. You have to qualify to run the Boston, so I imagine they were proud, excited, nervous, and in a "pinch me, I'm dreaming" state; especially the first timers. What were they running to? It wasn't just the finish line, I assure you.
For the horrific people or person responsible for taking the lives of the two (as of now) victims, one just reported being an 8 yr. old boy, the drive behind those runners, their families, and the helpers is greater than you can destroy. It has also been reported that many of the runners finished the 26.2 miles and ran to the hospital immediately to donate blood. They were running to: help, care, love, save.
My run is a piddly jog really, but there is so much soul searching in that time. I imagine there was soul searching beyond our imaginations today, before and after the bombing, but especially now. I imagine more people will be out running. Running to, and running from. Mostly running to.
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