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Dave Griffin On Running
The Carroll County Times – Sunday, November 9, 2008
People tend to complicate things. Have you noticed? Take politics, for example. If the smokescreens get any thicker I’m afraid we’ll all be running into walls, or maybe we’re already doing that. Now that the election is behind us, I don’t mind telling you that I’m pretty confused by the whole thing.
The secrets to a happy life have always seemed simple to me. I could spell them out for you in a few, short sentences, and I have a feeling that I’m not alone in that regard. And yet, here we are with such a complicated mess.
I think that’s one of the reasons I’ve always been drawn to distance running. It’s pure. If you consider a road race you’ll understand what I mean.
Everyone begins at the starting line. They bring with them their ability, their preparation, their motivation and their effort. We all start at the same time, run the same course, and finish in the same place. It is our own initiative that will largely determine how fast we get from one point to the other.
Some might say there is something unfair about it; that the more talented have an advantage. While it is true that talent impacts the results, so do all the other factors I mentioned. And, if you consider only the finishing position of each individual, you might be overlooking something more important.
Why, after all, do masses of runners line up on starting lines each year when there is only one winner at each event? Runners race because there is something satisfying about accomplishment when the accomplishment is gained through personal effort.
Success isn’t always defined by who crosses the finish line first. We all get to define success on our own terms, and, if you ask me, that’s one of the most important principles of freedom. And, with freedom, we have liberty. Liberty means that we are free from restriction and control in our pursuit of happiness. It doesn’t promise outcome, only opportunity.
Founded on these principles, our nation became the land of opportunity, and we have since evolved to lead lives of abundance and convenience. Why then are so many of us troubled? Because there is a difference between what we have and how we feel.
That’s why you’ll see so many people running laps on the track, or jogging through your neighborhood. That’s why thousands of people congregate at the big-city running events. No matter how wealthy we may be, we still need to be fulfilled.
Runners are, as a group, the most content and happy people I know. And, when you take individual runners, it doesn’t matter if the person is elite or someone who lingers near the back of the pack. There’s something about the consistent act of running that brings about a sense of well-being.
I know the world of politics presents some thorny issues and life gives each one of us a unique perspective. And yet, I can’t help but think that if we would apply the simple principles of running to things that are more complex, we might all be better off.
Of course, that might be too much to ask. So, I’ll just keep applying those principles to myself. So far, they have served me pretty well.
Dave Griffin