I have not been racing of late, because here in Florida, it's 100* in the shade starting around 7 am, and most normal people are in the AC. Me? I'd rather be racing. So in the mean time, I have been putting in hours on the road and on the trails with old and new friends. I found that this down time has made me grow, mature and think.......alot.
I have played many sports in my life, but I love the fact that running has changed me in ways that I could never have done other wise. Running has a way of forcing you to over come many things and also slow you down enough to appreciate the little things. In baseball (a sport I played for many many years) it's about the team and strategy. You hold each other up like bricks in a wall. Each taking some blame for the failure or victory in the sport, regardless of the who or why. Same with football, hockey, soccer and other team sports I played over the years. Running though, is a Drill Sgt screaming at you while you fail, reminding you that it is only you out there, alone, screwing up the whole thing. Screaming in your face to push further and harder in that failure because it's only objective is to make you a stronger person from that failure. To show you all will be ok when you overcome.
Now don't get me wrong. Running is strategy too. Pacing, nutrition, hydration, endurance. But running is more so about just you and the road under your feet. YOU are the only one accountable for what is done. YOU are the only one to blame for the failures or victories. It also embraces you in your victories and makes it that much better because of the failures it shoved in your face. And yes, some might have teammates out there with them and yes those teammates will pick you up when you fail or hold you high when you succeed, but one can not force blame onto those teammates in the end like in other sports and as in life. Running is accountability. That horrible "a" word that no one can seem to place into their mouths.
I have now, and always, put my lessons learned from sports into my daily life. But lately, I have begun to realize that the lessons learned from running, run deeper. I find myself calmer. More in tune with others around me. Their feelings or opinions, and I listen more. I am happier with my life and am not afraid to face fear of failure. I realize, and embrace, that failure is not an option, it's just a fact of life and with failure comes growth. Because with that growth comes love for ones self, and with that love for ones self comes respect for the beauty that surrounds us everyday. And with all of that, along with lessons of accountability, one can allow love, respect, beauty and many other things we never did allow into our lives.
I will now go out and learn and appreciate more of what life has to offer. I will embrace my victories and my failures and I will keep my head held high. I will do this because I love what running really does. It not only makes your outside strong and beautiful, but it works on the inside too. It really does show you that, life is a beautiful thing. Now, if you don't mind, I am going out for more lessons in accountability. Why don't you join me?
