The Great Equalizer

Yesterday I ran on the track of the gym. It was actually a very busy track day. Lots of people were running, and I observed a several things. First of all the track is oval. Granted that is not a startling revelation. I already knew that. Work with me for a few minutes though.

That oval puts runners on a level playing field. There was the guy with gazelle like abilities speeding around. There were the two women I passed a couple of times who were doing a run on their lunch hour. There was the young man training for his boot camp. How do I know that? He was running in boots with a back pack - fully loaded - on his back. There was also the older man who was just running hard, as I imagine he always runs.

It doesn't matter how fast or slow you go on the track. Everyone starts and finishes at the same place. No one is competing, but we all have a common goal. Starting, running and finishing is what we are all doing, and it doesn't matter how - we all do it.

That oval makes us all equal. The only time we are separated is in competition.

Last night was another First Steps session, and the one woman who was walking told me she almost didn't come, because she doesn't like being last. I told her it isn't about the placement. It's about the journey. She understood, but I could tell she didn't want to be last. I did put a positive spin on things - I told her we would be first back to the store. She laughed.

The oval of the track reinforces the notion that running is about the journey and not the final destination. Destination is why there are races.

Charlie