mindfirerunner

Part of my morning run.

As a runner it’s easy to get in a rut, especially if you’re a creature of habit (like me). I wake up at the same time each day, have my routines to get me out the door, and run the same general routes. I have gone off the beaten path several times the past summer as I felt trapped by the one thing that used to make me feel free.

I began venturing out on the dirt roads in the dark (nothing I had done previously because I didn’t want to end up twisting my ankle or running into wildlife). Throughout the summer months I expanded my training routes. No longer did I feel like I was doing the same thing day to day. The moon would light up the back roads and I could see surprisingly well. And only a handful of times did I encounter a skunk or two, a cow that had ventured out, or a magnificent hawk perched on a road sign. I actually very much enjoy interacting with nature on my runs because I realize I’m not alone. I can hear the coyotes howling in the not-so-far distance, and though at times I might panic slightly, strangely I feel more comfortable encountering wildlife than I do the occasional farm truck. Not to mention the daily light shows of shooting stars and almost epic trails of white dust they leave against the black velvet sky.

Though this morning’s run was one of those that ended up being character building, I enjoyed views I knew were well worth the efforts. Running early on a crisp and cold morning after a snow, and seeing nature untouched by humans is both captivating and motivating.

Sometimes all you need is a new perspective.