Is it my IPOD or the Running that Speaks to me?

I love running. I’ve gotta tell you. There’s something truly therapeutic about being out on the open trail bright and early in the morning. I’m not sure if it’s the sleepy-headed little critters that call to me as I pass them, or the feeling I get when I pass other runners or bikers who are out enjoying the beautiful day. But, whatever it is - it does it for me. It’s great mind therapy. Things become clearer to me when I’m out on a run, and I notice things and think about things that typically wouldn’t occur to me. Maybe it’s the adrenaline, or maybe just dehydration!

Lately I’ve been taking a particular notice of bikers. They are cult-like. They are part of a secret society – one where you need to know the secret handshake or speak the special code language to become fully integrated. Since I don’t bike, I don’t get it and I just smile and move out of the way as they chant, yell, snort, grunt, send up a hand signal, and fly right past me.

One day (near Father’s day and my little boy’s birthday), I went out for a run. I always take my IPOD with me because the music gives me the extra little oomph I need to go that extra mile. I was listening to my music not really paying attention to my surroundings. I met one biker who said “Arrrrrgh!” Another said “You’re lucky lady!” Another threw up some sort of hand signal that meant absolutely nothing to me. As I ran along about to pass out from the heat and from just tiring out, Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer came on. I laughed and thought “How appropriate!” as Jon sang “Oh, oh we’re half way there, oh oh Living on a Prayer.” How ironic that I was half way through my run at that exact moment. As I moved along, I heard bikers behind me laughing and chanting something unfamiliar. As they flew right by me, it occurred to me that KC and the Sunshine Band’s Shake your Booty was playing in my ear. Then I started to wonder if my booty was doing a little too much jiggling in my running shorts. Finally, as I was headed for home stretch, G&R’s Sweet Child O Mine came on. I thought about my baby, and how he was about to turn 4 years old, and how incredibly proud I am of him every day. With Father’s Day right around the corner, I though of my dad and knew that he was also proud of me for getting out and trying to stay healthy.

Somehow it all connected for me that day. The running high, the music, the camaraderie among the active. I love it, I love it, and I want some more of it.