Why We Run
A Natural History
Chapter One
Wind-in-the-Face Warm-Up
I love running cross-country.... You come up a hill
and see two deer going, "What the hell is he
doing?" On a track I feel like a hamster.
-- Robin Williams, film star
These days, my daily run is almost always in the mode of a wind-down after a long day of sedentary activity. I come home feeling a little restless, and eager to smell fresh air, and as I change into running shorts and a light pair of running shoes I start to feel new. I feel transformed and free, like a caterpillar molting into a butterfly. Seconds after tying my laces, I can trot down the driveway.
It is overcast this afternoon (September 21, 1999) and there is a fine, misty drizzle that feels fresh on my face. The still air amplifies the sound of water dripping on maple leaves. The leaves are still bright green, but they will transform into a kaleidoscope of yellow, orange, red, salmon, and purple in another week or two. The goldenrods along the dirt road a ... read full excerpt from: Why We Run ebook
