ārunning, by the laws of nature and of sport, requires us to keep moving forward. and so we do, living in a present often defined by whatās to come: the next workout, the next race, the next goal. yet, by the laws of human nature, weāre compelled to look back. self-reflection is part and parcel of a runnerās lot. we rehash racing moments and tough workouts. we find comfort at the starting line when we remember the training that got us there. weāre fueled by the good and find fire in the bad.
as the year winds down, we find ourselves in a kind of limbo. caught between the achievements (or setbacks) of one year and the opportunities of another. in this blend of nostalgia and optimism, we come together, celebrating the old with the new. we relish the journey home, returning to beloved running routes and training partners and victorious stomping grounds. we toe the line at local turkey trots, where sometimes we feel faster than ever but all-too-often we question where the other gear has gone. either way, we honor this gift: the ability to find joy in exertion and transcendence in exhaustion.
hereās to what has come and what we have left to accomplish. hereās to the times we failed, the struggles that shaped us, and the lessons we needed to learn the hard way. hereās to the sneakers we retired and the blisters we popped. hereās to the nerves that kept us awake, the weariness that enveloped our bones, and the exhilaration in crossing a finish line. hereās to running.ā