I was wrapping-up my stretching as the last of the evening light struggled through the leaves, casting shifting shadows on the ground that seemed to dance with the wind. It was an incredibly peaceful moment, sitting there quietly in the cool dirt, staring at the winding asphalt trail ahead of me that disappeared into the trees some hundred yards beyond. As I switched to the other knee and pulled it to my chest, I half expected to see another jogger plod into view, lost in their own run. But there was no one else...and that was fine. It was perfect, actually. Who else do you need? I stood up, inhaled deeply, pressed play on my iPod, and took off.
It took only a few strides for my old friend to come swiftly back to me in a rush of chilly air. His presence caused my breath to catch momentarily, my steps to quicken, and my heart to drive a burst of adrenaline throughout my system. My mind welcomed him back with open arms, if only to use him for the painful pleasure that he would bring.
His name was Speed, and I had missed him.
Feeling reunited once again, I drove ahead along the path, the extraordinary beauty of the surrounding scenery becoming a mere sideshow for the main event - a snaking trail that seemed to pull me along. Though ignored, the chortling creek to my right continued to surge forward, cast into shadow by a looming, abandoned, and seemingly ancient factory on the other shore. The sharp face of the cliffs to my left stood steadfast as ever, its dull hues almost coming alive amongst the glowing evening light. This path, this park, this air - they were a runner's dreams. They were seductive and extravagant and alluring in the way that only nature can be, and they were the perfect backdrop for what I came to do tonight. But at the moment, that's all they were - a backdrop.
With the music pounding in my ears, it took me several minutes to realize that I was breathing way too hard. And that's when I was snapped out of Speed's bind, slowing to a more reasonable pace. No, I would not sprint tonight. I would not fly through these woods, pushing myself until my legs screamed and my lungs struggled to function. But knowing that I could, knowing that these trees could become a mere blur if I allowed Speed to ensnare me once more - that's what brought me back to this path, night after night. Knowing that if I worked at it, then the Speed I know could become something even more powerful, more seductive. Knowing that meeting up with this enhanced version of my old friend could mean an even bigger rush - that was worth being a runner. That was worth being a human.
Sometimes we are quick to forget how absolutely extraordinary our bodies are. At their peak, they are strong, swift, and agile...but they can also think, feel, and learn. They have a potential for phenomenal growth, and an awareness to carry it out. They are a combination of the most powerful computers and the most evolved vehicular designs on this planet. But time and time again, we forget what these bodies truly are. And that is holding us back from really feeling what it's like to be human.
But I am lucky. Running has opened a tiny crack in the window to my massive reservoir of human potential. And while I have only barely tasted what it's like to utilize my human body to its maximum ability, it was enough to get me hooked for life. I want more.
I can be amazing. No, I WILL be amazing. Why? Because I am human.
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