The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same

Just Another Runner’s Perspective                                                                                                                         May 2021   Written by Gale Fischer                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same

“Being spontaneous at times is a must. Being spontaneous all the time is a crazy person.”

---Ryan Hansen

May 5, 2021: A bright sunny sky lit up the neighborhood surrounding Wattles Park Elementary School, injecting me with a shot of adrenaline. Temperatures were unseasonably cool and struggled to hit the mid-fifties but conditions were ideal for running. With just over six miles under my belt and the final stretch in my sight, I was looking forward to being finished. A mix of emotional and physical feelings simmered deep inside. My breathing was labored, my muscles exhausted and my eyes stung as sweat trickled from my hair and down my face. As uncomfortable as I felt physically, the exertion provided an emotional boost from the effects of the workday. My mind and body played tug of war. I wanted to push the pace for the final mile but my body would be content to hit cruise control. With the thousands of miles I had logged over the last two decades on this stretch of road, the cerebral and physical input that I was experiencing was something that had become routine. Just as I had succumbed to my body's request to coast in, an opportunity presented itself as two teenage boys pulled out of a driveway on their skateboards just twenty yards in front of me. This was just enough to entice me to press a little harder on the gas pedal.

Just finishing seven miles now was not enough. These two teen boys became my rabbit as I tried desperately to reel them in. The opportunity to turn this daily ritual into a game was too much to pass up. I was closing the gap on them but moments later we rounded the corner with a long downhill giving them an advantage. Their lead over me began to grow with little effort as their skateboards gained momentum on the downhill stretch. Although the distance between us continued to increase I refused to give in. The running Gods were looking out for me with a short, steep climb immediately following the bottom of the downhill stretch. Holding their skateboards in their hands, the teenage duo walked leisurely up the hill and I began to mount my comeback. As I passed them midway up the hill on the opposite side of the road I shouted to them, “I knew I’d catch you on the uphill!” I assumed that our interaction was complete with the turn into the parking lot at the top of the hill signifying the end of my run but moments later I could hear the echo of footsteps coming from the opposite side of the road. I glanced over as the two boys sprinted ahead of me. With smiles stretching across their faces, they yelled across the road to me, “We knew we would catch you on the uphill.”

Our friendly game of chase on that mile stretch was small and simple but their response to my challenge made my day, creating a chuckle for me at the end of my run. With all the miles I had covered on this stretch of road near Wattles Park Elementary School week after week, year after year, I had never had an experience quite like this one.

Running, when compared to other sports, can offer little excitement on the surface. Participants are provided with the same muscle movement and physical stimulus mile after mile with each and every stride. At its roots, running is one of the most simplistic and purest forms of athletics. It is this predictable nature, perhaps that many crave. The exhilaration that can be felt in the moments after a run as breathing and heart rate slow to rest can provide a peaceful sensation that resonates inside and out. Covering a long distance on foot and a sweat-soaked shirt can provide a sense of accomplishment, priming one’s confidence and self-esteem. The external and internal stimuli that are common with each and every run becomes a routine that is difficult to go without. Although the act of running is never easy, often uncomfortable and painful at times, the daily grind can mask these feelings. Simply put, over time running can turn from an activity that is challenging to find the motivation for, to one that becomes distressing to go without.

As predictable and routine as our sport can become, there are also elements of uniqueness to each run. Running different routes on a variety of surfaces in one’s hometown can create differing sensory experiences but even logging miles week after week on the same route can offer something unique for each run. The four seasons that we are blessed with here in the Midwest will provide those who run year-round with a different set of sensory experiences on the same stretch of road. The visual landscape that you take in as a runner with red, orange, and yellow color blends in the fall can quickly turn into a breathtaking blanket of white that coats the earth’s surface. As January and February roll along the snow-covered roads may lose their luster but a change in visual periphery will soon occur as plants begin to bud with a sea of bright green dominating the terrain. Sunsets, sunrises, dark cloudy skies, and wildlife can provide different visual perspectives to a runner that can’t necessarily be seen in the same way while driving the same stretch of road in a car. 

It’s not just our eyes that are treated to varied experiences while running. Birds singing and the echoes of children's laughter coming from a playground along a running route can provide a different set of auditory stimuli while running. Fresh-cut grass, smoke drifting from chimneys on a chilly winter morning, and lingering smells of Frosted Flakes or Fruit Loops cooking in our local cereal factories are just a few examples of differing scents encountered on a run. A cool breeze dishing out a moment of relief on a steamy morning run or a bright ray of sun shining down to take the bite out of frigid January wind provide variances on what one feels physically while running. Sometimes what one encounters through the realm of the five senses while running can trigger a particular memory and provide a flashback to an experience from an earlier stage of life.

Although our daily routine as runners can present an abundance of assorted sensory experiences, there are times when the mind takes over, masking all physical input. There are days when a run can give time to self-reflect, sort through the stresses of the day, or plan for upcoming events. Unique happenings occur while running alone but can also materialize while running with others with new social experiences each and every run. 

In the thousands of miles that I have covered over the last twenty-two years I have enjoyed new routes but equally appreciated some of my favorite ones that have become my go-to loops. The predictable pattern and routine of running is something I have grown to appreciate. Knowing what to expect when I go out for a run is perhaps what has made it into an activity that is overwhelming to go without. As comforting as the reliability of my sport of choice is for me I also welcome the spontaneity of it. You never know what you might experience on a run. One day it might be a friendly competition with two teens on their skateboards. Other examples for me personally of unforeseen moments on a run include finding a twenty dollar bill on the road, seizing an opportunity to help a stranded motorist push their car out of a snowbank, and having a brief conversation with a pair of secret service agents preparing to close down a bridge over I94 while waiting for the presidential motorcade to travel under it. 

 

Many in the running community have enjoyed the sport for years. A running journey that spans many decades can draw parallels to a marriage that withstands the test of time. The contentment that comes from knowing what to expect from a spouse each and every day can be the catalyst for the foundation of a strong marriage but this alone is not what makes a marriage a happy one. The combination of consistency and spontaneity can be the recipe for a long, healthy, and fulfilling marriage.  The same can be said for running. The consistency of knowing what to count on with running as a routine combined with the realization that there is always the possibility of an experience unlike any other waiting on a future run has kept me running for the last two decades. 

Until next time, this has been just another runner’s perspective.