I have started what some would consider simply an act of lunacy. On my birthday I run my years of age in miles. This year was by far the most difficult, but not just because it is one mile longer than last year. For some reason this year I simply have not been running the long mileage that I have in past years. Still, I really wanted to maintain the tradition. So I set out early Tuesday morning with clear expectations to finish. The run itself is a celebration of life and all of the possibilities. This years run seemed to embody my life as a whole. The run was difficult to start but pure stubbornness kept me going. Some miles seemed to fly by in a blur while some miles seemed to last forever. Uphill sections slowed me to a crawl and I got to cruise a few downhill sections. There were scenic overlooks where I stopped to enjoy the view and hot pavement where I simply kept running. There were a few points where I stopped to consider just what the heck I was doing and a few places where family members helped me keep going. It seems to me that running is a lot like life and long runs emphasize the similarities. So this week I'm continuing the journey, both in life and in my running. I hope anyone reading this gets to celebrate life with enthusiasm.
4 comments:
Congratulations and Happy Birthday!
I'll be checkin' back when you are 85. If you can go 85 at 85 then you're a real man.
32 at 32 is nothing, that's just 6 miles past a marathon (ha ha).
I think I am going to start this tradition too. 31 minutes of running on my 31st birthday, that's gonna be rough for me.
Better start training,
Tell Ricki Hi...we miss ya'll.
Ali
:) i'm glad to be a part of your life... and long runs!
That's a great tradition! Wow, I'm impressed. But then I'm always impressed with the Parnells!
I think since you are getting older the miles should start diminishing like our brain cells and what not. so next year it's back to 31. Think of it like women who seem to say they are a year younger every year...
Post a Comment