GREEN GRASS
To me winter running is all about routine. I find myself doing the same three routes because I don’t have to expend any more energy than necessary to get my run done. It’s like running on auto-pilot – my feet just go without much activation of my brain.
But the freshness of Spring fuels my sense of adventure. It encourages me to get out to explore new routes, venture into the woods and run longer so I can revisit places I haven’t seen since last fall.
I love tracking the passage of time by the scenery changes: the neighbor's garden awakens, an old house is torn down then rebuilt and the baby in the corner house becomes a toddler who now greets me with a "go fast" cheer and wave. Strangers become familiar as we cross paths regularly - usually giving each other the "runner's nod", sometimes exchanging a quick comment about the weather.
One of my favorite strangers is an older gentleman who I always passed on the same hill as he walked his two dogs. One fall I noticed that he only walked one dog and then in the spring he walked alone. I could sense his sadness and decided to stop and say more than just a quick "hello".
As I suspected, his dogs, 13 & 15 years old, had both died. He missed them both tremendously and while walking without them made him sad, he still loved his daily walks. He said that seeing my sister and I running always makes him smile because he was a runner back in the day too (I told him "once a runner, always a runner"). He had run the Boston Marathon eight times in “his youth” and believed that a parent's most important job was to be a good role model for their children which is why his daughters and grandchildren are fit and healthy.
While it was my intention to show this stranger some kindness to ease the grief of losing his furry friends, it was I that received the best advice. He encouraged me to stay active, live life and enjoying being on this side of the grass.
Al instantly became a kindred spirit and every spring as the grass turns green, I can’t help but remember his words of wisdom. Get out and enjoy being on this side of the grass!