Ted's Running Journal/Logbook: The world we live in.....

Friday, August 21, 2009

The world we live in.....

1:26 PM |

Posted by Ted |

Just a thought.... You know what... I was driving on the highway the other day. I was thinking about different communities we have on EARTH. I mean.. there are million different types of communities. Religious community... Croquet community... Poker community... Skinny Dip community... You name it. I was thinking of which community I feel the most comfortable to be with. Of course, that is the R-U-N-N-I-N-G community. I was thinking. You know what's so odd about it. I have never met anyone so bad in the running community. I have met so many cool people in the running community. I am wondering if there are any crooks in the running community. I have not met a single crook. I have not met a runner who robbed a bank. Unless that runner knows how to outrun a police office when robbing a bank! I have to say that most percentage of the runners in the runner community are pretty cool people to hang around with.(minus the ones with a big ego and bragging rights!) I've never get tired of talking about running. I get the goose bumps whenever I talk about it with runners. I have tried to engage into conversation with the non-runners. They don't seemed to grasp the realm of this, huh? I have great admiration for people who got into trouble with the law. They used running as a way to clean up their act. They also run to improve the quality of life. To improve health, etc.... I have great admiration for people who quit drugs or alcohol in order to start running. They are good and decent people. Honesty is the word that I think best described about the runners in the running community. I have not met anyone who could lie to me about running. (except the ones who took the shortcuts when running a marathon.) They are truthful about their passion. They admit the mistakes they've made. We are not perfect and we cannot run like Ryan Hall or Kara Goucher. (I think I tend to run like Ryan Hall.) We are truthful in term of what we are dealing when it comes to running.

Therefore, I ask myself "What makes the running community so special?"

I have looked at so many running blogs. There is one simple answer to what I have seen. The word I think is... HUMAN. We strive to be the best we can and take it what we have. We share one goal and that is to run and to have fun. We can talk for eternity about this and never get tired of it. We are so open about running: We can cry. We can laugh. We can get frustrated. We can get pissed off. We can jump in joy. You name it. We talk about what we feel. How cool is that?

What would my life be like if there wasn't a running community on earth? I don't think I wanna touch it. Scratch that!

So I am not sure why I am bringing this up. I wasn't under the influence of alcohol or any illicit substances when typing up this post. I think it is a time for me to express my gratitude/appreciative of being involved with a running community. I think it is a blessing that I have connect YOU - that is you - runners, swimmers, triathletes in this world to make a better place - for all of us. We must take for granted that we have a running (and other sporting community ! ) in this world.

Without it, I think my life would be utterly bored !

** Don't forget. I have a wife and two beautiful daughters and an incredible running community that makes my life as a whole. (and many more.....).**

24 comments:

Mel-2nd Chances said...: there really does seem to be something special about the running/triathlon/cycling community. It sometimes seems like such a small world, but we are only a small group of people that share a similar passion in a very big world. Hey...btw, what made you think of skinny dipping?? LOL Have a great weekend.; August 21, 2009 3:04 PM
Mel-2nd Chances said...: Oh, and FIRST!!!!!!!!! YAHOO!!!!; August 21, 2009 3:05 PM
Jamie said...: Great post! I think about how lucky I am to be a part of such a great community ALL THE TIME. Especially when you don't have any "runners" in your life. Most people just look at me like I'm crazy. I'm glad there are other crazies...just like me. Thanks again for the awesome post!
lucky7runner; August 21, 2009 5:19 PM
Mark said...: Well said, Ted!! I am thankful, too!; August 21, 2009 5:34 PM
Christie said...: Love this post. I must say, that I love the running community. You all are such nice people.; August 21, 2009 7:22 PM
Jo Lynn said...: Yup, we are great people. (If I do say so mysef.) ;); August 22, 2009 12:02 AM
robison52 said...: I'm the only runner in my family and extended family, all of them think I'm totally nuts! If it wasn't for the running community I would probably doubt my own sanity. Isn't the internet a wonderful thing...what would we be without this tool to connect with our fellow runners!?!; August 22, 2009 3:59 AM
Jess said...: It certainly is a good group to belong to!; August 22, 2009 9:31 AM
Erin Leigh said...: I've been gone for a long time due to changes in my life. I am starting to see an end in site and am looking forward to getting back to running and back on here. This was a good day to decide to pop on to see how you are doing.; August 22, 2009 1:22 PM
Andrew is getting fit said...: Running folk are special folk!; August 22, 2009 1:51 PM
Ted said...: @ Erin Leigh -- Holy cow.. I sure miss hearing from you. It certainly has been a long time. I have been wondering about you from time to time. Are you still blogging? It was definitely good to hear from you.; August 22, 2009 7:48 PM
Kelly said...: Every time I'm watching some show like Intervention or something where someone is trying to kick their addiction, I always think, "they should start running... working out... doing triathlons. Something." Cause it's an addiction to replace an addiction. And everyone is so supportive and awesome.; August 22, 2009 7:51 PM
Sunshine said...: Runners who blog are a great community, too.
Good post.. how could we disagree!!; August 22, 2009 8:25 PM
Michelle said...: Grasshopper, YES! You said it right on! Sometimes, I can't think of the exact way to express my feelings about being a runner and you said it for me!!

THANK YOU!!! Thank you for everything!!!; August 22, 2009 8:26 PM
joyRuN said...: AMEN, Ted!; August 22, 2009 9:13 PM
X-Country2 said...: So very very true. Great post.; August 22, 2009 10:01 PM
The Youth Pastor's Fam said...: Ted,
I just received the book from chic runner last weekend! Started it today and will send it to Stephanie when finished (still awaiting her address). Thanks so much- so far so great!!
Candace; August 23, 2009 1:08 AM
Marci said...: Great post and very true!; August 23, 2009 4:22 PM
Adam said...: Wait... Skinny Dip community? How do I join THAT one.!? :)

Great post - very true.; August 25, 2009 4:59 PM
Progman2000 said...: Does this mean you didn't mind me yakking your ear off about running at Charlie's house? Actually I probably held back a little - even around runners I'm afraid I'll talk about running too much (conversations from non runners are so boring though...); August 27, 2009 9:13 PM
bill carter said...: Hi Ted

Such a beautiful post! And I have the answer to your question. I think the one common thread that we have as runners (besides our love of running) is that we are all huge dorks. Really. And we seem to relish the fact the we are dorks. We love just about everything techy about our chosen vocation, but we also love to go for a run and get sweaty and dirty and stinky. Sometimes we even like really harsh conditions (wind, rain, snow, lava storm?) to prove just how tough a runner can be.

I love being a runner.

Take care my friend!; August 28, 2009 10:22 AM
Laura said...: I love this, and I agree with Bill - there's something about running that attracts dorks :) I think running just isn't considered that "cool", so to really keep doing it, you have to be willing to be "uncool."

I also think that the type of people who are thieves, jerks, etc, are the type of people who like instant gratification without effort - something you CANNOT get in running.; August 28, 2009 2:59 PM
Rahn said...: Hey Ted,
Just stopping by to check in, since I haven't been here in a while...nice thing about the internet, it really expands your community.

Good luck with your tri. I hear those people are pretty nice too. (But they wear funny outfits and shoes without socks. :); August 30, 2009 6:56 PM
Pete said...: I have friends who are runners, and friends who aren't, and it's amazing how different our conversations are. Seems like all I talk about with my runner friends is, naturally, running.

By the way, I used to pick on my little sister when I was a kid - does that make me one of the "bad" runners?; September 5, 2009 10:32 PM