First, two days before Christmas, my FIL passed away rather suddenly. He had been in frail health for a while but when we saw him at Thanksgiving, he seemed to be better and even "peppy". But I'll share that whole story much later, when I'm able.
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| Chris and his parents |
During the week that followed his passing, the sanity of running was able to help my husband and me stay focused, united and a little less stressed. Don't get me wrong, dealing with the passing of a parent (whether it be yours or your spouses) takes it horrible toll on oneself and emotions are quickly set one edge. However, being able to run together in peace and harmony was always the time we knew we could escape and just be. I've always known that but this is the time that my husband discovered the comfort of a run.
As soon as the holidays were over, I headed off to teach a few workshops at Perkins School of Youth MInistry and managed to find a gym where I could run safely every day. Again, this keeps me sane and focused, as I balanced teaching and coordinating our upcoming 6 weekend events. Which would start the day after I got home from Perkins.
But during the midst of these events, another tragedy hit. No one I know personally. But has had a pretty large effect on how I look at running these days.
Fellow blogging friend (someone I aspire to being more like)SUAR (you can find her blog here). Usually SUAR is funny, gassy, and inspiring. I can always count on her for words of wisdom and sarcasm (sometimes I think we are twins separated at birth, but then I realize how much taller she is and that totally ruins that thought). But recently, a tragedy hit her family and little did I realize that it would change my running forever.
For the whole story, you can catch it here.
I don't even know Sherry. But I do know:
- I love a good road run. I prefer it with the Perfect Pacer but he's not always available. So I often run by myself. On a secluded road. By myself.
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| This is my favorite, secluded, albeit creepy road. |
- I have been asked numerous times by PP to stop this.
- I ran the other night by myself. In the dark (as nights are). PP was not pleased. (I was - I had a super fast time - which is probably because I was scared the whole way).
- I love my PP. I love my family. I love my friends.
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| My oldest, my middle, and the grand. |
Since sharing Sherry's story with PP, he has made it clear that he doesn't want me running alone. Especially on the secluded road which I seem to adore so much (I will admit - it is creepy out there).
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| Perfect Pacer (aka PP) |
The later used to annoy the poop out of me (ode to SUAR). But I'm having to redefine why I run, how I run and when I run. I know this will make me a better runner, and a better person. It's painful though to realize that my evolutions are because of the loss of another runner.
I remembered crying the morning SUAR posted this. PP and I were in the car heading to camp and I read it off my phone and just burst out crying. He was perplexed. After processing through it, I came to understand my mourning was because of the commonality I had with Sherry - a female runner, who often ran alone, never questioning the good or evil of those around. I finally understood why my PP was so upset when I ran alone - especially at night on deserted roads.
So I implore my fellow runners and friends, to please make note of when you run, who you run with and where you run. I also implore you to stay tuned here for updates on the virtual run for Sherry that will be upcoming soon. Run for Sherry, for yourself and for those runners around us.
3 comments:
I too, used to run alone... My husband put a stop to that about 4 months ago. Having just moved here from 2000 miles away, I don't have any running buddies that run as long or as far as me. I run w my new neighbor at her level and enjoy that very much. I now run long runs w my dog on trails that are used by many other runners. I amno longer doing the night runs or long runs down country roads. I miss them terribly but have to be safe. I feel so sorry for Sherry and the family and friends she leaves behind.....
I also run alone but don't have a choice. I don't know anyone who lives within 30 miles of me that runs. Sad but true. I live in the country by a small town. So small there isn't even one traffic light. I do drive to town and run there. I know who lives in alot of the houses so this is good. I do not run in the dark, never have. I'm a morning running so when I run people are on their way to school or work. We have a park in our town with a 1 mile loop that I love to run on but in the morning no one is there. I just don't feel comfortable running there by myself so I've stopped doing it. Not many people use it so if anything happened to me there no one would witness it or find me for who knows how long. I love that trail. It's sad I've had to give it up. I usually run 3 to 5 miles 3 or 4 days during the week and long runs on the weekend. For the long runs I go to the "big city" to run. I have a couple of friends who live 30-35 miles from me and we run together every Saturday 10-15 miles. Atleast I have them for the long runs.I hate that we live in a time where you can't trust anyone. Oh well, it is what it is.
Thank you for your kind words - yes, Sherry's story has taken the "innocence" out of running - now we can't un-know what we know about the dangers. Tragic and heartbreaking all at once.
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