FEBRUARY 10, 2021 (WEDNESDAY)
METEORS IN MY HEAD
I run…every day. At times, I get asked, “What do you think about when you do all that running?”
Good question. I wish I knew the answer. Actually, my answer is usually well thought out and meticulous and backed by science including physiology and psychology. So, my usual response in a very intellectual manner is, “Oh, just all kind of stuff.”
That is actually very close to the hard truth. Upon starting a run, I will go through mental checks as to how I feel compared to the planned mileage and effort. Such “stuff” like footplant, running form, pace, and weather conditions come to mind. Adjustments are made depending on the feedback to those elements of thought. All this usually happens in the first mile to a mile-and- a-half distance.
After that, it’s every thought for itself. It is survival of the fittest…thought-wise. And, it is a hard fought battle for those thoughts to survive.
A great thing about running distance is that it opens the mind. Whatever I was thinking about before the run started seems to become insignificant during the run. It fades and fades, and fades…
Then, as I run into more mileage, BOOM!!! All these fragments of thought invade my head. First, it’s one thing, and an eighth-of-a-mile later, it’s something entirely different. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Just as I think I’ve come upon an idea or a thought to mentally explore…it changes. And, so it goes as the run continues and the miles pass. It may not happen to everyone who runs, but it often happens to me. But, that’s just me.
I continue running with an easy effort in a relaxed stride, and, I’ve got to say it…very slowly. In fact, I seem to be getting slower as I get older. Oh, well.
I run mile after mile with a seemingly open mind with thoughts beginning to invade. They generate quickly and then burn out like a meteor burning out in our atmosphere. These “meteors” shoot through my head bouncing off the inside of my skull. The thoughts are sometimes remembered and expanded. Mostly not. So, the ’47 roadster reflects and usually has only bits and pieces of thoughts such as today’s in my 15+ mile run of which I will sprinkle here.
The thoughts today (or, meteors inside my head) sparked on…
HEADWIND…ONCOMING TRAFFIC…COOL AIR…CASEY…SHOES…FOUND MONEY…RACES… DOGS…CLOUDS…VOL STATE…COKE…GPS WATCH…BACKPACK…GEORGIA COUNTIES RAN…ROAD SHOULDER…RAINBOW… MASK…WEEKLY MILEAGE…BICYCLE…TRUCK BRAKE PADS…TRION CROSS-COUNTRY…NCAA CROSS-COUNTRY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS…NAIA CROSS-COUNTRY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS…COVID-19…MOTOR SCOOTER…TELESCOPE…RECORDER…CONVENIENCE STORES…SOUTH GEORGIA…U.S. HIGWAY 411…SOUTH CAROLINA…KAREN JACKSON…WHAT-A- BURGER…LYERLY, GA…ROADSIDE TRASH…NORTHWEST GEORGIA… JONESBORO…DEAN THOMPSON…BOOKS…PACE…SHOULDER PAIN…JANICE… SEASON…RAINBOW AGAIN…SHANE…WENDY AND FAMILY…“TRAIN WRECK”… TURTLES…CHATTANOOGA TRACK CLUB…RESOLUTION CHALLENGE… TRANS AM…REVOLUTION RUNNING…’64 FORD FALCON…COVID-19 VACCINATION…COACHING…GEORGIA COASTAL RUN…CANCER…SPRING… SUMMER…ARFTA…DIRT TOWN…POLITICS…PRESIDENT…SOCIALISM… CONSERVATISM…KENDRA STALLINGS…18-WHEELERS…FRIENDLY DRIVERS… SKUNKS…TRACK & FIELD…EVOLUTION…DEATH…WARADY…NURSES…FLIP BELT…UFO’S…TENNESSEE NIGHT SKY IN VOL STATE…LAZ…STROLLING JIM…GERMAN SHEPHERDS…BJ TIMONER…CROSS-COUNTRY COURSE…JOHN PRICE…JERRY’S…WINTER…WEEKI-WACHEE…CHIROPRACTOR…TRUMAN SMITH…FLEXIBILITY…WEBSITE…JOURNAL…LYNDA WEBBER…HOTS…TOWNS…ANNIE RANDOLPH…PUSH-UPS…IOWA…THAT DAMN DOG…NEW BROOKS GHOST 13s…OLD BROOKS GHOST 12s…OLDER BROOKS GHOST 12s…CTC RACE SCHEDULE…YOUTH RUNNING…TARA TURTLES…RAINBOW’S RESOLUTION CHALLENGE…JOHNNY…DOUG…OLD CARS…TECHNOLOGY…WHY WE DRIVE…GOLF COURSE…CROSS-COUNTRY AWARDS…SLOW RUNNING…JOGGING…CAMERA…WILDLIFE…MOUNT VERNON…WAR MONUMENT…THE OLD ROAD…RIEGEL…BONES IN A TUB…MOONLIGHT DRIVE-IN MOVIES…COACH CHANCE…SMALL TOWNS…DOC HOLLIDAY…MONUMENT VALLEY…CUMBERLAND ISLAND…SPEED PLAY…LONG SLOW DISTANCE…SLOW RUNNERS COMMUNITY… NIETZSCHE…GEORGE SHEEHAN…RUNNER’S WORLD…C&O CANAL TOWPATH…STEVE SMALLING…MONTEAGLE…
AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON LIKE METEORS THROUGH MY HEAD, SOME LODGED IN MEMORY, MOST BURNED OUT, BUT THE RUN CONTINUES.
(Richard Westbrook)
Westbrook Running 
Enjoyed reading your Tuesday run story. We need to go for a run together. Perhaps an historical event would be confirmed. The event being ….. I could finally beat Richard Westbrook in one aspect of running. I’m willing to wager that my running pace is slower than your “sooo slow” pace. Would love to have that victory information pasted on the CTC’s Long Runners Wall. I can see it now, a “Slowest Pace” category …… #1) Truman Smith, #2 Richard Westbrook …… how cool is that! Lol.
Stay safe out there!
I don’t know, Truman. I really feel confident that I would reign supreme in the “Slowest Pace” category…so slow that onlookers think I’m just standing there.
Ha ha! Thanks for the response, but I’m not buying it. Take care.
Very proud that my name made your “thoughts” list. IMHO, that’s very similar to Tom Brady remembering some high school quarterback’s name that he beat down many years ago, during one of his super bowl games! Lol. But hey, it’s all good. Always nice to be remembered!
I’ve never really put into words the things that go through my mind during a run, but after reading your description, I think that you are ‘right on!’ The big stuff on my mind at the start seems to become much less important as I move forward and then there’s no telling how many quick thoughts pass through the old thinker as I struggle to continue forward. The little ‘thingy’ on my wrist that vibrates, hopefully at 3 minute intervals, is about the only thing that re-centers my thoughts during a run. (Note: For any non-running person who might be reading this comment, I have my GPS set to vibrate at quarter mile intervals.) Sadly, nowadays, my post run attitude is totally determined by whether or not I was able to cover 5 miles in one hour.
Always enjoy reading your Reflections! Be safe out there! Stay well! Take care!
Thanks, True Man! Glad you liked the “reflection.” It’s good to know that I may not be the only weird one out there running around.