And so I play.
I play on
I play for the moments yet to come …
Looking for my place in the field
I’m in Traverse City for the annual MBA BEST Conference (Banker Education Summit and Trade Show) and had some time to kill before things kicked off. So I decided I would go for a run, trying to stick with my 10K training plan as much as I can.
Today’s session was supposed to be 1 mile slow, .5 mile fast (9:45 – 10:00 min pace) x 6 times followed by 3 mins slow, ending with 1 mile slow at the end. Figured it should be around 5 miles by time everything was done.
I couldn’t even get to 3 miles today. It was a bad run. Between my flaming Achilles and some new pain that is starting in my left knee, I started wondering why I was even doing this damn running thing. I mean, if I can’t run 3 miles on a treadmill in a hotel gym, how in the hell am I going to run 6.2 miles on the Old Mission Peninsula six weeks for now.
And then I went back to my room, turned on HBO (fully intending to get a nap) and got lost in The Legend of Bagger Vance.
There are many of my friends who hate that film. “Look, it’s Mr. Will Smith acting like an angel to save poor Matt Demon who can’t get his head out of his ass!” And I’ll admit, it’s not one of my favorite movies either. Will Smith trying to act too much like he’s in Driving Miss Daisy
But it involves golf and so it always gets my attention since golf is something that tends to teach me something from time to time.
Today it taught me why I run and it did without me even having to pick up a club.
It is often said that golf is a game that you can’t ever win. I’ve discovered that running is the same. Sure you can get a PR. Sure you can get a medal. But I have found lately that there isn’t much that is as peaceful is being able to run down and back on the KRVT in Kalamazoo. I’ve been able to just be in that moment, even with legs aching, and found ways to get through it because I want to experience that moment that follows.
I think, despite today’s perceived setback, I shall continue to run. I don’t care about medals anymore. I don’t care about PR’s. I just want to be in the field. I just want more of those moments that are yet to come.
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