Weird Dream

I don'f often have vivid dreams.  Last night I had one that running friends will realize the unlikelihood of it actually happening.  Makes me think about the "meaning" to the degree that dreams have meaning.  

I was at some international track and field competition running the anchor leg of a 4x400 relay.  (For my non-running friends on most tracks that is a run that is one lap for each runner.)  I got the baton with a big lead and managed to hang on for the victory against someone who was supposed to be very fast.  People I know from today including hockey parents were there to greet me at the finish where we went into a chant of "U-S-A! U-S-A!"

Yes, I still love my track workouts.  I always have.  And, I presume, I always will.  But I couldn't even make the 4x400 team for the Penn Relays in high school 28 years ago.  The 400 was never a great event for me.  The only event I was ever really even all that good at was the 1600 meeter run.  And I can't tell you why my brain would want to highlight a relay race for a distance shorter than I was ever any good at.

As I write this, I can throw something out there as an idea for interpreting my dream.  It did represent a win against the odds at a race I aspired to get into (everyone wanted to run at the Penn Relays back in the day).  And I needed some help from my fellow athletes to participate in the win--being give such a big lead.  So, perhaps it does go along with my current running goals.  Working with a little help from my friends toward a goal that many say is against all odds--the Comrades run next year.  Some 56 miles.  Completely the opposite end in terms of distance.  But needing help from my friends in what may be perhaps even more important ways--like the endless training miles.  Especially in a week in which I had just run with others four times in one week (with runs of four different paces at 7, 6, 5, and 1 miles) for the first time in a VERY long time.

What about the hockey parents?  Not entirely sure.  But we did watch our kids play a heck of a game yesterday.  Despite losing 7-2 they played a MUCH BETTER game against a team that had beaten them 9-0 in the opening game of the season.  And, among other things, they played together better as a team--again reflecting the importance of friends in achieving goals.

If anyone has any other ideas on what this might mean given my crazy connecting-the-dots mind, I'm open to suggestions.

Freedom's Run Marathon--Part 3

The Freedom's Run marathon is so named because of the fact that it runs through some areas critical to Civil War history.  John Brown.  Harper's Ferry.  Antietam.  As I mentioned in part one of the story of this marathon, the race was preceded by a person singing some of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.  The war ended with freedom for the slaves.  Part of the discussion around the war was states rights--freedom in a different way.  So there are lots of freedoms right there.

But I can think of other freedoms that went along with this race.

First, the freedom just to be the runner I want to be.  I run at crazy times.  I run a ton of miles.  I enjoy running with friends.  As we were chatting with someone along the river, I mentioned the people I train with.  He commented quickly that I don't train with any guys.  I think the last time I ran with a guy was one weekend last summer.  And occasionally there will be larger groups that include guys.  But I have the freedom to do what I want to--with two constraints.  I have to minimize the interference with my family life and I have to make sure I don't fall behind at work.  And I do both of those.

Second, the freedom to dream.  My last dream was getting below 3:10 in Philly.  This year had begun with no plan to run a marathon.  The marathon plan came in May.  And it feeds into my next dream.  An ultra marathon in South Africa.

Third, the freedom to share that dream.  In sharing that dream, I have the chance to inspire others.  And when I inspire others they share my dream.  And then they can help me with my dream.  My kids think I'm a little crazy but share the excitement of my dream.  My fellow runners all think it is an exciting dream to share.

Fourth, the freedom to run where I want and when I want.  That is also completely key.  I have enjoyed running around the city.  Through many areas.  From Belvedere Square to Patterson Park.  Canton and Federal Hill.  At crazy hours.  And when the freedom was limited, I was mad this spring.  I have learned not to take the freedom for granted.

Fifth, the freedom to run far.  And that freedom was showing on my face when I was running a sub-8 minute mile late in the race.

Sixth, the freedom to enjoy my success and the freedom to enjoy the success of others.  Running is a great sport as it is great to share the runs.  And that brings people close together.  And then on race day, it can be just as exciting (and sometimes more) to see and share the success of another as to succeed oneself.

Seventh, the freedom to recognize when the ties that bind become ties that constrain.  In preparing for the race, I had hoped just for once to run an entire race with a friend.  I'd never done that before.  When we reached mile 17 or 18, Lauren started to tell me I could go ahead.  I waited.  I even mentioned that if we were running the Marine Corps marathon rather than Freedom's Run that I'd feel compelled to stay--after all the idea of leaving no "soldier" behind (or runner behind in this case) is deeply ingrained in the US military.  But Lauren recognized the sixth freedom I mentioned.  She wanted me to succeed as much as she wanted to succeed.  And when she recognized the struggle she was having she wished only one thing--that I would succeed.  At that point, if I had not gone ahead, the ties that bound us as friends would have become the ties that constrained--unnecessarily.  Lauren ultimately could take care of herself.  I had no doubt of that.  And I was set free to run.  To be everything that I could be.  To prepare for the next dream.

Those are the many freedoms I have.  I sometimes take them for granted.  I live them all to the fullest.