Day #6: To Run is Enough

“For every runner who tours the world running marathons, there are thousands who run to hear the leaves and listen to the rain, and look to the day when it is suddenly as easy as a bird in flight.”

~Dr. George Sheehan, Author of Running & Being

The beauty of our sport is that in its most commonplace practice it touches the sublime. As Sheehan points to in his quote, there is bliss and meaning in the mundane strides. In a sense, there is no such thing as a mundane stride. Every run offers meaning.

When you run today, open up your senses. Listen to the wind, the patter of your footfalls and the rustle of the leaves. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the gift of today.

Some, it is true, enjoy the allure of travelling the world chasing new experiences and marathon venues. This is a wonderful exploit. Yet, for each of those fortunate souls are many many more like you and me today who have the privilege of setting one foot in front of the other and of soaking up the bliss of today’s run. For us, this is enough. We need no other venue then our daily loop, our familiar sidewalk, our well-worn trail. To run is enough.

But Sheehan goes even a step further than this worldly bliss. He point us to a heavenly future where even the sweet runs we enjoy today will pale by a marathon. He reminds us that we have eternity in our hearts. Eternity in our strides. We are meant for even better than this. And when we reach that Olympian lap, running will truly be flying – as easy as “rising up on eagles’ wings.”

According to Sheehan, even your best running day is only a glimpse of heaven.

Okay — get back out there. Get this run done! One day away from a week straight!

~Coach Reed