The Road

Break-ups are never easy.  I mean, really, have you ever heard of a break up that was without pain?  Even if just a little bit of pain?  As much as I hated to do it, it needed to be done.  Don’t get me wrong–it wasn’t easy.  We had 13 beautiful weeks together.  We laughed, we cried, we made memories and in the end, I was stronger for it.

But as much as I enjoyed our time together, toward the end, in my unguarded moments, I found myself dreaming of my first love.  After that 13th week, I knew it was time.  It was time to return to my first love.  It was time to say good-bye to Tony Horton.

 (I couldn’t help myself, don’t you just love a dramatic opening?)

As I’ve talked about before, due to a persistent running injury, I traded my morning run for time well spent with Mr. Horton who encouraged me to jump, push, stretch, and burn my way to a strong and healthy body with his P90X program.  I followed his lead for 13 weeks.  I listened and obeyed.  I enjoyed his humor and felt a shift in the strength as the weeks moved forward.  My time with his perfectly sculpted form was time well spent and I have no regrets, but still, something was missing.

I missed the road.

I missed stepping out into a quiet morning with the songs of the birds providing a perfect soundtrack. I missed the rhythmic cadence of my feet pounding the pavement.  I missed the feel of mornings cool air rushing into my lungs.  I missed the glance of the grazing horses as I passed by them in the glow of morning dew.

I still struggle with a nagging injury.  Those closest to me {Chad} would prefer I not run to protect my seemingly uncooperative body.  But still, I lace up my shoes and head out the door anyway because out there, on the road, everything makes sense.

Undoubtedly, there are countless articles written about the benefits of running.  I’m sure I could fill hours talking about all the health benefits that come with putting one foot in front of the other for a run.  Frankly, though, that doesn’t matter to me.  In reality, I run because out there, on the road, I am reminded of who I am.  On the road, surrounded by natures beauty, I find a peace that is difficult to find in the midst of busy schedules and tiny voices.  On the road I am reminded of who I am and what really matters.   When I am breathless, fighting the hills and feeling the rush of air into my lungs, I am reminded that I am alive and this life, although not without pain, has been good to me.

On the road I am reminded of all that is good and worth celebrating in life.  Somehow, what seemed like a problem before, is no longer a problem.  The road teaches me to trust the process and to simply put one foot in front of the other.  The road reminds me that there will be hills and valleys, ebbs and flows, stretches of calm and stretches where I struggle, but still the journey is always worth it.  The road reminds me to look up, notice the beauty, see my surroundings, and to never forget that there is always beauty mixed with pain.

Not long ago, the road was a means to an end.  My eyes were married to a watch that counted the minutes and monitored my splits.  The road was about speed and distance, it was about conquering and succeeding.  As months and years move forward, the road has become so much more.  The road has taught me about the journey, it has become a metaphor for life. The road has given me far more benefits than any runner’s world article could ever express.

The road teaches me about life.

My Dad used to say, a run is your best friend.  It will never lie to you–if your having a good day, you’ll know it.  If you’re having a bad day, you’ll know it. My Dad was right.  The road brings me back to basics.

I need to be reminded of the basics.  I need to reminded that the most important things really are simple.  Because really?  More than anything, that is what I really want to teach them. . .

I want them to know that the most important things can’t be purchased with a credit card or financed through a bank.  I want them to understand that beauty is everywhere, as long as they have their eyes open to see it.  I want them to understand that relationships matter more than accolades and that storms will come, but if we allow them, they will shape us into stronger, deeper people.

Perhaps I over-simplify the “gifts of the road”, but I’m okay with that.  My head is clearer there (even if my leg isn’t) and I will continue to go back to find perspective and remember to put first things first.

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In other news. . .

Meadow and I spent our final days as “just the two of us” before summer break. . .

I will forever treasure these days we spent together.  Even 3 1/2 years after her birth, Chad and I still remember our nervous days when we wondered how adding a third baby to our crew would change our world. . .

Today, we can’t imagine a world without her.

I now officially have a fourth grader. . .

And a second grader. . .

And a preschooler. . .

My heart can barely grasp it.

Last weekend my most awesome husband and and Father in Law gave us a beautiful new patio in our backyard.  While they worked, the kids played. . .

Who needs a swing set when you have a dump truck in your backyard?

I anticipate summer evenings of fun. . .

Exploration. . .

Perhaps a few frustrations. . .

And plenty of memory making. . .

I hope hope the same for you.

Happy Friday, Friends!

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On a side note:  While writing this blog, I discovered that Blogger is destroying the quality of my pictures.  I will be looking for a new home for the blog.  If anyone has any advice for where Running Chatter should make its home, I’d love to hear from you.

Have a great weekend!