Independence Day

A day to get out there and run, wherever you are in the world

For the past nine years I’ve written The Half Marathoner, I’ve made a rule for myself never to wade into politics, or anything that gets too close to it. Mainly because that’s not our topic here, but also because I know people from across the political spectrum subscribe, and my goal always has been to make sure everyone feels welcome.

That doesn’t mean I’m not affected or moved by what I see happening out in the world, not by a long shot. (Especially this week.) I’m every bit as shaken by it, every bit as alarmed.

What has me so unsettled, I think, is that it feels as if the ground is shifting underneath my feet, at a time I was least expecting it. That’s a strange, anxiety-producing feeling. And while unsettling things happen out there in the broader world, they’re also happening to people I know and love.

I’ve shared with you a little about my father and father-in-law, who both are experiencing serious health issues; just this week, I’ve heard also from friends experiencing health issues of their own.

My parents are in their early eighties, while my in-laws are in their mid-seventies. It’s not lost on me that we’re very lucky they’re still with us. But everything they’re going through keeps reminding me, soon the role of being the “grownups” in our family won’t be theirs to play anymore.

It will be ours — mine, my wife’s, and my sister’s and in-laws’.

Even though I know, rationally, that each of our lives is finite and will someday come to an end, I don’t think I ever really believed that. Not in my heart of hearts, I mean. As hard-to-believe as this sounds, I think deep down I probably thought we’ll all live forever, won’t we? The future will keep stretching out as a succession of more days just like today, right?

Meanwhile, we’re also raising children, hoping they’re not getting too close of a look into all of this — and that they’re getting to have a stable, carefree young life in which they got to think mostly (only?) about themselves, just like we did when we were younger. In which they dream about becoming astronauts, or artists, or center fielders. A life in which they know there’s someone’s there when they stumble who can say, “I’ve got you.”

By the way, it’s so odd how our desires and needs change over time, isn’t it? When I was in my teens and twenties, I remember longing for an exciting life, an adventurous life. I’ve had some adventures since then; but now, more than anything, what I want is stability, peace and calm. For everyone I care about to be okay, to be happy. Life unfolds in strange and interesting ways, doesn’t it?

Earlier this week, I got out for a run at my favorite place to run here in Atlanta, along the Chattahoochee River. Where I ran is one in a series of parks throughout the city here along the river, all with trails — some wide along the riverbanks, others narrow and winding through the woods.

It was hot, just over 90 degrees. But I had to get out of the house, as I’ve been getting my runs in mostly on the treadmill lately. I needed to experience the open air, the sun, the trees, the birds, the sound of the river flowing by.

I took my run intentionally slow, mostly because of the heat. But also because I wanted to soak it up, to simply be present and still in that moment. There was a time when I ran to get faster, when I’d time myself with my watch to see if I could shave off seconds here, or cut my mile time down there.

Right now, though, I’m using running as a way to find calm and peace, even if it’s only for a moment. To remind myself that life is going to contain a lot of things right now — some of them are going to be wonderful, and some of them are going to be difficult to get through.

In her wonderful newsletter

The Daily Respite

, my friend

Clara Parkes

shared this, which I think sums up my feelings much better than I can express:

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.

What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.

And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”

― Howard Zinn

As Clara always closes her daily emails with, I’ll do the same: “Onwards.”

(There’s really no other choice, is there? 😃)

As always, my friends, keep in touch and let me know how your running/life is going — I always love hearing from you, whether it’s in the comments or in reply back. And have a great 4th!

Your friend,

— Terrell

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Our training miles for this week

How did your first long run go this weekend? I know, I know — it was only three miles. For many of you, probably, that’s something you can do easily. But if you’ve laid off from running since the weather’s been hot, or are getting back to it after a long layoff, hopefully it stretched you a little bit.

I’ve been running most of my training runs over the past week on my treadmill, but got out Tuesday to run at my favorite park along the Chattahoochee River here — even at 5:30 p.m., it was 91 degrees 🥵

Here are our miles for the week ahead:

• Thursday, July 4 — 3 miles

• Saturday, July 6 — 3 miles

• Sunday, July 7 — 2 miles

• Tuesday, July 9 — 3 miles

I know this set of runs looks easy — and it is! But that’s what we’re doing at this stage of our training, just getting light, easy runs in, and building up our base as we go. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions about our schedule, your running, or anything else 👍 — Terrell