A Running Moment

For the past two days, I have gone the South Davis Rec. Center due to the horrible weather. I was nervous the first day as I was unsure what I was even doing. Everyone there seemed like they had a clue and so I pretended to have a clue too.

The plus side is that it is indoors, there are many different machines to work out on along with an indoor track, and the people there come in all shapes, sizes, and ages (lots of older people. Three cheers for them).  I was worried about looking like a running fool in comparison to the other runners, but because there is a variety of people, I felt okay.  I have learned how to work the bike and treadmill machines and I like them (they have little TV’s you can watch while you work out).

A negative (for me) is that the track is only 1/9th of a mile, so I have to run the track 9 times to achieve a mile. Nine times seems like a lot. Running the track nine times, watching the same old same old is not too inspiring at all, but the track is indoors out of the rain, snow and smoggy haze of yesterday.

Today, I had a moment . . . I noticed an older woman in her 50’s or so walking the track. Her legs were very skinny, and her left leg appeared crippled. She wore a specially made shoe with an extra thick soul to make her leg the same length as her right. As she walked the track, she pretty much dragged that left leg along and walked very slowly.

I did a half a mile of running and decided to do the bike for awhile. This woman was doing the bike as well  when I got there and asked me for some help figuring it out. We started talking. She noticed my brace on my knee and suggested I try running in the pool. She says it has done miracles for her.  I told her I would give it a try. As we talked I explained how I was training for a big race in June and how I was nervous and unsure if I was capable of doing it.  She turned to me and said, “If I had legs like yours, I would do it. I would run races.” She smiled at me. “You can do it. I’m sure you will do just fine.”

I have no excuse. My legs are fine—weak, out of shape, but fine. I am thankful for this. I am thankful for my legs, and what they are capable of. I need to always remember this.