In junior high I could sprint pretty well. But that was in relays and opportunities to exploit that sort of thing have become fewer and fewer. In the last couple years I've probably only 'booked it' to catch the bus. Maybe chase down a loose dog.

 

My sister and a few friends are what I'd call life runners. Some of them train for marathons and half marathons, others just for exercise. Whatever the case, they're all hyper disciplined and run almost every day. Some have their favorite route or treadmill at the gym, their favorite shoes, their tunes. The culture is intriguing, I admit, but the thought of joining in used to make my knees hurt.

 

I'd given up the idea of running altogether until I read an article at my doctor's office -- a Runner's World interview with Poet Laureate Kay Ryan. Ryan said that she uses running as a way to clear her mind for writing and admitted she only jogs fast enough to beat the street sweeper. This sounded more my speed. If I would become a long-distance runner, I'd take it easy. I'd think about stuff. Or maybe think about nothing at all and watch the leaves turn.

 

Anyway, Ryan convinced me I could run without racing. In fact, run to 'slow down.' But an article published in Nature by University of Utah biologist Dennis Bramble and Harvard University anthropologist Daniel Lieberman sealed the deal. They made the case that humans are simply meant to run. That we have evolved as long-distance beings. Which, of course, meant I had to let go of the notion that it would only destroy my knees.

 

Been at it for two weeks now. Jogging here and there. Not sure if I've crossed the threshold of forming a habit yet, but I hope that writing about it keeps me going. I have no real goal in mind and I'm not super disciplined. It's just a nice thing to do. A natural thing with its very own playlist.