The Contrivances (Chronicle) of SUN-day… RUN-days-- Volume 1, Issue 1
The Contrivances (Chronicle) of SUN-day… RUN-days.
Volume 1, Issue 1
On SUN-day morning I run. It’s just what I do. For years. Every SUN-day, rain, SUN, or snow . Any conditions. Home or away you will find me out running on SUN-day. I usually lace up my shoes and head out the door early SUN-day morning, but not always---on occasion I will run after church.
In the United States, approximately 60 million people participated in running, jogging and/or trail running (2017). This is approximately 15% of the population. Many of us are out there running on SUN-day. Most races (including marathons and triathlons) are held on SUN-days.
Today was no different. Up early before the sun, I waited with knowing anticipation that this SUN-day would be perfect for basking in some precious vitamin D. The wintery sun has been blanketed by gray cloud cover for the past few days—a rarity in southern Colorado. Today’s dawn sky was free of clouds—a crisp 19-degree F morning. We are blessed to live in a forest. Miles of wooded trails just beyond our front door. I threw on long sleeved pants and shirt, a pair of gloves, and at sun-up headed blissfully out the door.
I most always hit the trail (or road) running alone. Running is my time to explore the inner-goings-on of my mind. Often during a RUN is when I create my inner-most ideas, mindset, and future facing plans. My RUN time is where I iron out many of the worry-wrinkles that subconsciously exist inside my head. A renewed sense of clarity with a closeness to the presence of God is evident on most runs.
And today was no different. Heading down the trail of our driveway, a fresh fine coat of new-fallen snow sparkled a brilliant rainbow of color where SUN caught the light and moisture---more precious than any photo or painting can capture.
I especially love a RUN when the fresh snow gives signs of those traveling before me—bunny tracks, fox, and the occasional prints of a rafter of turkeys. At about the point this morning where the runners breathing starts to ease—a typical metabolic finding amongst those who run, when the initial increase in heart and respiratory rate catch up with the increase in physiologic activity—I looked down to a less common set of tracks in the snow. A catch in my breath and re-quickening of heart rate, as I stopped to take in the tail-tale tracks.
The tracks of a cougar (AKA mountain lion) are quite distinguished. A sure identifying feature of a cougar track is the large dog-like pad track—but with the lack of nail prints—as similar to a house cat a large cat has the ability to retract its nails. I followed the tracks for a time. They kept going. I turned back. A great reminder that I am simply a visitor to a place the animals know as home.