It's hard to stay away from the things you love. Especially when those things teach you how to live, love, hope and dream. I've missed running terribly. I didn't realize how it has such a profound effect on my life until I stopped. I always felt guilty when my running would take me away from my family. It wasn't until I stopped running that I realized how running made me a better husband and father. When I was running I was happier. I was more relaxed. More focused. I was more in the moment when around my family and others. Running made me an all around better person. When I was running I had faith. I believed. With each passing day that I was not running I would look back on my running adventures as some of the greatest moments of my life. They were adventures completely fueled for my love and friendship with God. That relationship becomes difficult for me when I am not running. It's just one more reason I stopped. I became confused and frustrated that a feeling so strong was confined to the trails. I began to doubt.
I have begun to run again and I am signed up to run the Oil Creek 100 Mile Trail Run Oct 08. Right now, it feels impossible. Hopeless. However, I know from experience that anything is possible. All you have to do is keep moving forward. You have to want the dream so bad that you can taste the finish line months before you step to the starting line. You have to enjoy the journey. Expect the difficult days and push through them. Cherish the moments when you feel so damn good you start dancing on the trail. Possibly screaming to the clouds because you are all alone in the middle of nowhere. Looking up and remembering. Dreaming. Feeling completely and wonderfully alive.
1 comment:
Interesting post, Tom. It'll be good to see you on the trails again and perhaps talk about this. Hopefully we'll get an opportunity to spend some time together in a race soon, like old' times.
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