Posts Tagged ‘running’

Late last Sunday afternoon before performing at Big Top Chautauqua, I donned my running gear and ran straight up the face of Mount Ashwabay.  Just about hurled a lung, but made it.  Turned at the very tip-top, and was rewarded with a many-miles view of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands in the sun, and down at the foot of the ski hill, the blue and pearl-gray tent waiting patiently for the evening’s ticketholders to file in.  The sound of the Blue Canvas Orchestra in rehearsal floated up on the breeze.  I drank it all in, and thought too of my family at home.  Made me feel lonesome and privileged all at once.  Running down the hill, I followed a trail of soft red sand that wove through the trees, everything quiet under the cover of leaves.

Remember that post I wrote about running a mile recently?  I ran it in 5:50, but told someone it didn’t look like 5:50.  And it certainly didn’t feel like 5:50.  It looked and felt ugly.  Now, thanks to photographer, geographer, radio host and international track journalist Sean Hartnett, I have photographic proof that I am still working on that whole gazelle thing.  If you think the photo above reflects a certain internal turmoil, check out this one: