Michael Gravel Edmonton Writer

Running To Go

Lately, I’ve felt the pressing need to run. I’ll be walking home from the bus stop and the urge to sprint like a bastard will come over me. The heavy breath feels so good. It’s work, and my lungs tell me they’re grateful for it. I can’t run too far as of yet – three blocks at the most – but I’m working on it. Every day I run a little farther, and every day I look more forward to the time when I can get out and blast around. This never used to be the case. In my old life I’d run only if chased. Fitness simply wasn’t on my radar and you couldn’t pay me to run or exercise or draw a heavy breath. Funny what a near-death experience will do to a guy.

My runs get shut down not by my heart and lungs as I might have expected, but by my legs. The ticker moves along just swell and seems to love the workout but the thighs haven’t caught up yet. I get rubber legs after a good jaunt. I haven’t quite reached Running Room Level, wherein I jog in a large group and wear one of those reflective taped Microft jackets and sport a gratuitously oversized bottle holder. I’ve railed against those people in the past. I’ve penned rants denouncing them as dangers to society and all that is unpure in the world. Now I get it.

It feels good to learn something new and like it. Feels awesome to breathe deep. It reminds me that breath is precious and health is wealth. Perhaps above all, running just may be the best thank-you I can muster.

Entry #86 · May 19, 2008 in