A lot of people choose to run for many reasons: lose weight, prove a point, a break from reality, and for enjoyment.
I run for all of those reasons, but more importantly I find peace and solace when I run. I clear my head and just run. On occasion something inside me tingles when I run and I feel an inner strength that I have never felt before. About a week ago I went for a run (on a 50 degree February day in Chicago) and had the most amazing out of body experience (don't judge, it was incredible). But, let me back track so you can get the full effect.
Last year after my "big event", I went for a run (actually a few months after the event) on a beautiful July 5th evening. It was amazing, the weather was perfect for running, it wasn't the typical hot, humid day in the burbs of Chicago. I was running my usual route and I turned a corner to where the sun was on the horizon and setting. My eyes were drawn to the horizon and the orange, purples, and blues were brushed across the sky. The sun was radiating and the brightest that I have ever seen at dusk. It was a beautiful canvas painted across the sky. As I was running, Awolnation's, "Sail" was playing on my iPod. The verse that screamed at me was, this is how I show my love. I made it in my mind because I blame it on my A.D.D baby. This is how an angel cries. In that moment, no matter what happened, I had a memory that I would never forget. A lot of people wouldn't remember a moment like that, they would pass it off as another run or training day. It will be a day that I will alway remember...it was the day my Grandfather passed away. I know on that day he found his peace and solace as well.
February 2012 - I decided to go for a run since the weather was perfect for a February day. On this day I decided to deviate from my usual path and just run where ever the path I chose lead me. When I hit the 3 mile mark, I started to feel weak, my legs felt heavy and I wanted to stop. As I turned the corner, I noticed the sun was setting and the rays of light from the sun pushing through the clouds. There was a magnificent light orange shared across the sky which made the clouds a metallic grey. The rays of light coming through the clouds were beams of bright yellow. At that moment, Awolnation rang through my ear pieces and I ignored my heavy feet...and I ran. I ran and I ran for another 3 miles. I ran so well, I ran 6.2 miles in 42 minutes. I found my peace and solace that day...I felt I had someone running next to me and help me ignore my heavy legs.
