After waiting out the clouds yesterday afternoon the Sun broke through and it was time to put in the mileage I’d kinda been putting off for the day. The last leg of Louisville’s Triple Crown of Running, the Papa John’s 10 Miler, is Saturday morning so step by step on the pavement it had to be done to prepare. My route of choice was the Ohio River Flood Wall, a 7.25 mile flat smooth run along the winding Ohio River where you can watch the river flow while the miles roll away. Two song lyric references there by the way and since this post will ultimately be about music I guess they should be explained. “Watching the River Flow” is an outstanding Bob Dylan track and “while the miles roll away” is taken from the classic Jackson Browne tune Running on Empty and for the me “the only time that seems too short” is not the time we get to play but the time I get to run. This was one of those runs and about half way through a song that I had forgotten was the in the playlist came spilling into my ears. It was a live tune from Louisville’s own My Morning Jacket and their triumphant return home concert on the Waterfront in August of 2008 that goes by the name of Phone Went West. While its a song of a longing that has passed it’s possibilities it still holds a sense of hope that the future will be alright down the road and that with each step led me out of a frustrating work weekend into the coming of Spring, thoughts of an upcoming 20th Anniversary with my beautiful and amazing wife and thankfulness for three daughters who are each doing well in their completely different stages of life. Lots of folks were out enjoying the afternoon running, cycling and walking their dogs and the Sun was shining down on the Ohio and at that moment all was right with the world. Of course all the realities of life are still there but it was still an opportunity to be grounded again in what’s really important and that’s why running, which now seems to be the real reason of this post, is part of the saving grace I’ve been granted over the last few years. The next tune was Eddie Vedder covering Tom Waits’ Picture in a Frame which was enough to push me over to the sentimental little cuss attitude I get every in now and then…it didn’t last long as Sports Talk was on the radio on the way home concerning the ‘ol University of Kentucky Wildcats and Honest John Calapari’s coaching…oh well, it’s Spring, Easter Season – behold all things are new.
