There I was, concentrating on running ’round the track: beads of sweat forming on my forehead, legs pumping, arms swinging, breathing deep and even. It was all very serious business for me. After all, I have a 5K to run this July, and a half-marathon in October. Yes, for me it was indeed very serious business, this running thing.

Then I saw her: around four feet tall, about sixty pounds, wearing a bright pink shirt and light blue sweatpants. She was running with a friend about her age and size. No, let me correct myself. She was playing with a friend. That’s right - while I was seriously, soberly concentrating on my running speed, my posture, my breathing, this little girl was running for the pure fun of it. She was chatting up a storm, laughing and giggling, as she and her friend ran up and down the tracks, up and down the tracks. They were having a great time! To them, running wasn’t a challenge to be met or a chore to be done to lose weight or to prepare for a competition. To them, it was obviously playtime and bonding-time.

Watching them, I began to remember all those years, oh so long ago it seems, when I did the exact same thing they were doing - playing for the simple pleasure of spending time with my friends, and for the sheer exhiliration of moving. Whether it was a game of tag or hide-and-seek, a few hours of volleyball, or an afternoon of swimming, I did it for no other purpose in mind than for enjoying the moment. Not to lose weight. Not to participate in or win a competition. But simply, joyfully, to play.

Even though I was alone, I smiled when that realization hit me. I relaxed, loosened up, and became more aware of the cool wind on my face, the gentle late afternoon sunshine on my skin, the interesting mix of joggers in the track. As I did so, it seemed that long-dormant cells in my body suddenly became alive - the air seemed to tingle, the colors became more vivid. This was a feeling I knew from days gone by. Something a bit alien to me now, but still so tantalizingly familiar. Then suddenly, I knew what it was. It was something I should’ve given myself permission to do so a long time ago. Something my mind longed for and my body craved - playtime!

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P.S. to the above entry:

Last Sunday, the hubby and I went out to play. We cruised around the neighborhood and found this lovely little park with a small lake and beautiful views of the Bay. We walked around, holding hands and laughing, like little kids on a field trip. I wasn’t planning on running, but I was wearing sweatpants and running shoes and it was just such a great spot to run that I wanted to try and see how it felt. Markie, ever the good sport, offered to hold on to my bag so that I could. It was fantastic! (And so is my hubby ).

that’s me running along the beautiful bayshore

a relaxed markie playing with his cameraphone in the park
(next time we’ll bring a frisbee )

our shadows looked tall and thin in the water

a serene late afternoon in our new “playground”

Posted under Navel-Gazing , Running