Ice Running, the ipod and 9/11

It is winter here in New England. Bare trees, snow on the ground, kids sledding. For the runners out there, today was one of those perfect days. Sunny, not too windy, and air just cold enough that you are not sweating profusely and warm enough that your lungs aren’t getting sliced by the rawness. Went to the local track to do some speed workouts. This time of year, only the first 100 yards is accessible as the remaining 3/4 is covered by snow and ice, and sits in the shade away from the warming sun. Today, however, my sacred 1/4 plot was a mix of ice and slush so I deferred to the parking lot. I am still up in the air when it comes to the ipod and running. I love music and running, but the two together don’t really mix for me. If I am on the road, it is a definite no for me, I don’t want to end up road kill (which reminds me of how awful this month has been in terms of the number of people who lost their lives while walking in the streets because the sidewalks are not plowed). Certainly, during a race it is a no. But when I am on the track, it has been 50:50. When I first got an ipod, I used it all the time. Now, it is more of a distraction/annoyance than anything. Besides the ear phones falling out, cords hitting my face and out of sync rhythms (yes, all can be fixed) I lost out on the whole point of running for me: to enjoy it. I recall reading this excellent article in Runners World a ways back about
John Moylan, an avid runner who worked in the twin towers. He almost lost his life that day, and was unable to run for almost a month likely because of the emotional toll it took on him. Running is a way for me to get some perspective everyday. In the daily grind of life, it is my release. Whether its exercise, reading, driving etc, having some kind of way to deposit these pressures is a good thing. If you have never run or walked for exercise, or have gotten distracted from the routine, there is no better time to get back on the horn. Grab a pair of sneakers, and walk for 10 or 15 minutes. Try it a couple of times a week. My bet is that you will get addicted to it because of how good it makes you feel. God, life isn’t easy. All you can do is keep keepin’ on. Like the wise man Red once said “Get busy livin’ or get busy dyin”.