Another reason to run
I'm guilty of taking my running too seriously -- when I run, that is.
I'm not of those gotta-run-everyday runners. Never have been, likely never will be. It's rare for me to run so many as six days in a row, even during the peak of marathon training. But when I run, I typically channel whatever energy I have at that time into my run.
Sure, I have my moments on auto-pilot, when my legs simply, almost effortlessly carry me while I soak in my surroundings. But sadly those days are more infrequent for me than seven consecutive days of running.
So today's run was strange for me because I was keenly aware of my running environment. I can't explain why. Maybe it's because I'm not currently in training. Instead, I'm on the front end of a much-needed offseason. Maybe it's because my dogs ran with me -- something that usually only happens between November and April because of overheating concerns.
Whatever the reason, I was able to spy a genetic anamoly in the animal kingdom. An albino squirrel.
I've seen albino squirrels before and looked at them curiously, wondering if perhaps what I was witnessing was a different breed. Today, when I saw that squirrel, I knew immediately what it was as its puffy white tail stood out against the woods' brown carpet of fallen leaves.
There was no time to study this beautiful creature. Not with the dogs leading my way. But that's OK. There might be more time for that in the future.
My brief glimpse of the white wonder had a pronounced impact. Besides causing me to consider how this squirrel's life, because of its lack of pigment, might be different from its peers, it opened my eyes to just one of the countless things I often neglect to notice during my training runs. It made me wonder what else I miss when run.
It left me wanting more. It changed my perspective on running, if only for my offseason maintenance runs.
I will try to absorb and appreciate nature's beauty around me -- the same beauty that always surrounds me during my treks through the nearest nature reserve -- this winter. I will try not to take my running environment for granted.
And I will look for that squirrel again.
I'm not of those gotta-run-everyday runners. Never have been, likely never will be. It's rare for me to run so many as six days in a row, even during the peak of marathon training. But when I run, I typically channel whatever energy I have at that time into my run.
Sure, I have my moments on auto-pilot, when my legs simply, almost effortlessly carry me while I soak in my surroundings. But sadly those days are more infrequent for me than seven consecutive days of running.
So today's run was strange for me because I was keenly aware of my running environment. I can't explain why. Maybe it's because I'm not currently in training. Instead, I'm on the front end of a much-needed offseason. Maybe it's because my dogs ran with me -- something that usually only happens between November and April because of overheating concerns.
Whatever the reason, I was able to spy a genetic anamoly in the animal kingdom. An albino squirrel.
I've seen albino squirrels before and looked at them curiously, wondering if perhaps what I was witnessing was a different breed. Today, when I saw that squirrel, I knew immediately what it was as its puffy white tail stood out against the woods' brown carpet of fallen leaves.
There was no time to study this beautiful creature. Not with the dogs leading my way. But that's OK. There might be more time for that in the future.
My brief glimpse of the white wonder had a pronounced impact. Besides causing me to consider how this squirrel's life, because of its lack of pigment, might be different from its peers, it opened my eyes to just one of the countless things I often neglect to notice during my training runs. It made me wonder what else I miss when run.
It left me wanting more. It changed my perspective on running, if only for my offseason maintenance runs.
I will try to absorb and appreciate nature's beauty around me -- the same beauty that always surrounds me during my treks through the nearest nature reserve -- this winter. I will try not to take my running environment for granted.
And I will look for that squirrel again.
posted by RTG at 4:31 PM
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