I
have said before that I will run every chance I get, in any place, in any
weather and in any time zone. That's how deep my passion for running goes. The
only real tragedy when running would be if I no longer enjoyed myself. I
cannot deny, however, that my daily runs around my urban neighborhood has left
me wanting. In all my running years, I feel like I have dodged
enough vehicles, swerved around many pedestrians and skipped over too
many potholes as I make my way around the metro. So just recently,
I decided to change things up a bit by taking trips out of the city and
run ....into the woods.
Running in the "great
outdoors" does provide an undeniable escape from what can be an otherwise
stress-filled day. It gives one the opportunity to trade-in the outside
environment of cars and other city noises for fresh air and the sound of birds,
bugs and trees rustling in the wind; to be running in mud or dirt instead of
hard pavement; to be seeing clear blue skies instead of skyscrapers and dodging
rocks and rivers instead of potholes and construction piles. I find that
the change of scenery and being closer to Mother Nature does provide a
spiritual connection that is very grounding, healthy for the mind and benefits
the soul.
I wish we could have an oasis within the
Metro, a naturally preserved park wherein one can just step into to run ( maybe
even just walk or stroll ) and be transported into another world that is
seemingly far away yet very close. And once we have rejuvenated our senses
enough, we could just step out, ready to face reality and the challenges of the
outside world. Unfortunately, such a place does not exist nearby so for
now, I will have to contend with taking hour long drives away from the Metro
searching for an oasis to run. Unless of course I move to the
"Boondoks", maybe grow my own food, raise chickens and goats, bathe
in the river ----- and of course, run wild and free. Actually, that's not
such a bad idea after all.
