Running, running, As fast as we can, I really hope we make it
The daily journey to work should have taken me no longer than ten minutes. But I’d left the house late and now I found myself sitting in traffic.
Sitting there, hands clenching the steering wheel, lips chapped and attempting to sing along to The Postal Service, I noticed her running by. And instantly I hated her. I hated her and everything she represented. I hated her freedom. I hated the fact that it was nearly 8 in the morning and she wasn’t rushing off to an office with fluorescent lighting. Her fingers would not be gliding effortlessly across a keyboard, in an effort to update the latest database. I hated the fact that she had the luxury of spending her mornings exercising, her legs pounding away rhythmically. I imagined experiencing the exertion of my lungs, the cold air on my face and I hated her. I hated her pert ass and blonde ponytail swinging to and fro.
And as sat there thinking up a list of imaginary wrongs incurred by the young woman, I had what others would refer to as an “epiphany”. I realized that a few months ago my opinion of the woman would have been different. I would have looked at her in complete and utter awe. I would have admired her willpower. The discipline that it took to wake up at the crack of dawn and run anything further than a block, was beyond my comprehension. And this feeling of awe would soon be followed by one of dejection. I’d never be capable of any of this.
And now … Now all those things I’ve admired in other runners; all those things that I always I assumed I was incapable of doing, are easy. I’ve finally reached a place where I can run 8km comfortably. I’ve finally reached a place where running is actually enjoyable. I’ve finally reached the point where I can bite down and tell myself, “You’re not done yet. Dig deep. Find your inner strength.”
And as this realization hit me, I couldn’t help but smile.
Bitch! Rub it in why don’tcha!!!!
Yeah, I like that! I am reasonable at running when I need to, but I prefer the bike – kinder to the feet and knees…
8 km is pretty damn good! I’m taking part in a charity 10 km this weekend…but I’ll be walking most of it as my running is crap
And anyway, maybe she has to work evenings?
I don’t enjoy running but I am pretty serious about walking regularly – at least 5 miles whenever I can. I just feel better when I’m exercising regularly.
Brilliant, Sid. Absolutely brilliant. I wish I could find that kind of strength. So I’m you just a few months ago. But I will probably stay this way.