I was driving through the parking lot of a Super Target yesterday when I saw a guy who was about 45 run across the parking lot. There really wasn't an urgent need for him to run - it wasn't raining or cold. The cars weren't backed up waiting for pedestrians to move. Then I thought, "I bet that guy just felt like running."
Now, I've never been one to go out and run 5 miles for exercise or stress relief. That's just not my preferred style of workout. But there was a time when I would run short distances to get places faster and to just burn energy.
For example, in high school I used to run up the hill from my parents' house to the bus stop. It seemed like it was always winter on this run because the cold air would burn my nose and freeze my ears as I sprinted a few hundred yards to keep from missing my ride.
Then in college, I would routinely run as fast as I could from my car to my first morning class - backpack flying behind me, head tucked down to cut back on wind resistance.
At the time, I remember thinking that you never see "grown ups" just running to get places. There has to be a reason for the run. Exercise, competition, baseball-sized hail. It made me kind of sad to think that one day I'd grow up and it would be less likely that I'd feel socially comfortable to run free like that.
I think the last time I remember just running to run was in the parking lot of my last job. I think I tried to play it off that I was cold and wanted to get inside quickly, but really I just wanted to feel like a kid.
Now, I know I could pick up jogging if the act of running was what I missed, but it's really not. It's not even a "missing" but more of an awareness of the passing of time and changing from one stage of life to another.
Since having Colton, I thought about this more. I'm not just my parents' kid anymore, now I have a kid. I realize I stopped being a "kid" in any literal sense a number of years ago, but having a baby really seems to cement the end of your own childhood.
Which brings me back to my Super Target running buddy. I think he was just trying to relive his childhood with a trot through the parking lot. Maybe I'll do the same or take it a step further and skip through the aisles at the grocery store or joyfully sing "Mary had a Little Lamb" while spinning around in circles at the post office.
Hmmm, I see visions of a concerned bystander reporting me to DHS. Maybe I'll just buy some fruit rollups, rent The Rats of Nimh and call it good.
6 comments:
Summer! A couple of things, Matt is still thankfully a kid. So you can probably borrow The Rats of Nimh from him. He also still runs randomly like the man you saw! In fact, it may have been him, but he's only 31 so you probably didn't mistake him for a 45 year old. Matt also rides the carts sometimes at breakneck speeds. Also, you're a great writer!
Do it Summer! I still run short jaunts for fun. I think if you are in school, people think its because you are in a hurry. But its not. Its because running is fun, healthy, and time efficient. Even if its just between your car and the door. Think of how many seconds you save running instead of walking!
The other day I realized I always run up the stairs to my apartment, too. Why? Because running up stairs is more fun than climbing them slowly and laboriously. Duh...
Run for fun! Yaaay, fun runs!!
Although, I don't suggest it quite as much now because today I ran into a store and slipped on the curb, nearly breaking my elbow. So, safety first in the winter...
This post made me laugh aloud.
Run for your life Summer!
I feel the same way, Summer! Jon and I actually had a long conversation about it one day and decided that it would be awesome if we just ran from place to place. Run from the car into the store...run (or jog so as to not kill people) down the isles at the grocery store...run just because it gets out that bottled up energy. We concluded that people would probably stare and assume that we were nuts, but tried it anyway. We didn't make it far because we were laughing too hard, but I would say we accomplished our task...we had fun!
Also, the only thing that Jon looks forward to about going to the grocery store is running at "breakneck speeds" and jumping on the cart...he pretends it's a horse...best part about the store for him. So I think you should definately consider acting upon your impulses...but please do be careful in the wet, wintery months (although Jon prefers snow for the cart riding...apparently it slides better that way)!!!
Run Summer Run. Be free little bird.
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