I Run...

 

I Run

That’s what I do. I run, not to run away but towards. I run with severe commitment, whether anyone is watching me or not—I imagine perhaps no one is watching. I run under-the-wire, with my own insignificance. Just a temporary grain of sand made of stardust and ash perhaps. Yes, I’ve competed in hundreds of running events and have done my own charitable runs; however, many times it was to give me an excuse to put in massive amounts of miles for my own scientific reasons.

Some people run to socialize, I don’t. Many compete for a prize; I have found that has not been all of my driving force to run for miles or hours after hours. I’ve competed many times hoping to win, to show my running was not for naught. But no matter how much I demonstrated outside of my insignificant world of long-distance running, it was still unacceptable to those I was trying to stop from hating me for my different approaches to living—they felt that their knowing of my running impinged upon their lives. Which is petty and ridiculous. All’s they’d have to do was make their own life changes. I wouldn’t suggest anything, unless they asked a logical question that maybe I could answer. I tried to steer clear of the unfriendly.

Over the decades I have been reminded over and over again that people don’t want to be reminded of their responsibilities to their self-care effort when it comes to a mental effort that differs from education. Running long-distance doesn’t pay your utility bills, taxes, etc… You’re not guaranteed to receive an advance on a higher paying job in an interview because you run far, daily. However, daily long-distance running creates a quality of life that many ignore.

I greatly despise hearing the following, “I used to run… but my…” or “Well, I can’t run now I have kids.” Or “Running is so boring.” Or “You’re lucky I don’t have the willpower.” Or “Wait till you have to raise children.”  All of that is absolute BS.

Then there are the assumptions as if to put the fear of God in you. “Well, my doctor said… Not good for women.” Or “Aren’t you afraid of animals…”. Or “Someone could rape you…”. “ Or “Do you run if it’s too hot out?” Or “It would hurt your lungs in the winter.” Or “I’m an asthmatic.” All BS lines of fear and can’t. And no, my uterus hasn’t fallen out yet, now nearing 181,000 miles of running in my 50^th year of running long-distance.

So, as you read this book, you’ll realize all those BS lines and can’ts are a façade. I’ll show you that I’ve been through all those fearmongering and excuse-ridden comments. And ‘No’ I do not wear headphones or earbuds listening to music or books on tape as I run. I’m a purist. As humans I believe we need time alone with movement to get to know ourselves. Long-distance running is refining the finished product before we continue our day or our night, as we are a work in progress 24/7.---Jody-Lynn Reicher