The Thread
The Hills Have Lies: Why I run
October 22, 2007
My love/hate affair with running spans back many years. I'd start running for a time and after awhile, I come to the realization that it's the most boring endeavor ever. So, I stop. But, I always end up coming back which is usually after a season of holiday bingeing. Season's eatings! It's a vicious cycle. My father runs. He has run marathons, half-marathons and every fun run in between. He's the reason why I started running. I wanted to emulate him but on a much smaller scale. I don't know if I'll ever run a marathon. The very thought seems impossible to me given that I haven't run very far past six miles. I'll always remember my first mile and... not finishing it. That first mile is what dissuades people from continuing to run. The gasping and wheezing... that pain in your side and back... the cramping of all major muscle groups and it feels worse the day after. You'd have to be a masochist to want to continue. Once you get past that and your body gets used to it, it's really not that bad. It becomes a time of reflection, freedom... an escape from whatever brings you down. At least, that's what I've come to realize on this, my most recent run revival. I don't run very far but I always incorporate a hill into my route. Why? Well, because a hill is a metaphor for life's little challenges. When you first reach that hill, you wonder if you have enough gas left in the tank... one more push to reach the top. You start off slow because slow and steady wins the race. All the while, the hill tries to talk you down. You're not good enough. You'll never make it. Why don't you quit now? The hills have lies but the trick is not to believe them... not to let them define you. At the halfway point, it always becomes a glass half full situation. If I made it this far, I can make it to the top. Suddenly, those lies don't seem so loud and intimidating anymore. The roar of deceit has become a whimper choking on your dust. As you near the top, you find that you have more in the tank than you thought you had and another gear kicks in. One you never knew existed and it powers you to the top. You made it! Such a wonderful feeling, an amalgamation of joy and pain. It's this hill that serves as a blueprint for everything else in your life. An inspiration to draw upon when you need it and that's why I run. That's why I'll continue to run... to reach the top of those hills.
