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Dave Griffin On Running
The Carroll County Times – Sunday, October 11, 2009
Her entire life seemed ordinary. The first time she realized it was at her high school graduation. When her name was called, it echoed over the crowd and then faded into silence. The audience had been encouraged to hold their applause, but nearly every graduate crossed the stage to some clapping or hollering. Not her.
She had an average job with average pay. She arrived on time and left at five to tend to her other responsibilities. No one ever acknowledged her efforts. Most of the time, her boss couldn’t even remember her name.
She lived in a normal house and had normal possessions. She was okay with that, but the thing was, she never thought it would be so hard to lead an ordinary life. Nothing came easy: not her diploma, not the job - nothing. She never complained about the hard work. In a way, the work was satisfying. She only wished, just once, someone would tell her she was appreciated.
She started running because it wasn’t ordinary. No one she knew ran.
At first, it was harder than all the other things in her life. She almost gave it up a dozen times, until one day she actually enjoyed it. That’s the day she decided to register for a local 5K. When she told her friends about it, they laughed and teased her a little. One even bet she couldn’t run the entire distance, which added a measure of determination.
She wasn’t sure what to expect when she arrived at the race, but it was different than anything she had experienced before. Some people stood around the registration area with their numbers pinned to their shirts, while those who looked more experienced jogged around warming up. She didn’t speak to anyone, but she could tell there were other runners feeling the same nervous anticipation she felt.
The excitement at the starting line energized her and, as she began to run, it was as if she was embarking on an adventure. The adrenalin alone got her through the first mile. It got harder after that. There was a hill she wasn’t sure she could climb, but the doubt in her friend’s words got her to the top.
She could see the finish line long before she reached it, and there was a moment of apprehension as she realized that the people gathered there were watching her. Then, as she made her way up the final stretch something she didn’t anticipate happened. People cheered.
She knew they didn’t understand the significance. How could they?
Life might seem ordinary, but people never are. We all differ in personality, desire and experience. And yet, in the depths of each of us is a similar human need for affirmation. While pursuits such as running can develop self-esteem, nothing feels as good as knowing someone else believes you have value.
So cheer. Encourage. Love. It may mean more than you realize.
She runs all the local races now. She never sprints towards the finish, content to let other pass while she enjoys the applause.
Dave Griffin
Dave Griffin is the Times’ running writer. His column appears every other Sunday. Reach him at dpgflyingfeet@aol.com or join the Facebook group, Dave Griffin On Running.