"Good News Is On The Way"

So, I've been reading "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall, and being now in about the middle of the book it is really beginning to have several catch-my-attention moments.  Like in chapter 17 William James is quoted and it reads: "Beyond the vast extreme fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own; sources of strength never taxed at all because we never push through the obstruction."  That certainly rings a bell with me, especially still working two jobs right now and not having college classes and wondering how I ever juggled all three for the last three years.  And, how did I ever get through eight years of college; where did those years go?

Now I'm in chapter 22 reading about beat poetry, and I am reminded about the time in college when creative writing was my favorite class and the speech I chose to give was one on slam poetry.  [Slam is not nearly the same, but it is presented similarly.]  I wanted in those moments to live in Chicago at the Green Mill Jazz Club and be entertained by Marc Smith.  Cheering in loud whoo!s and snapping my fingers were things I practiced while listening to slam poetry.  I am reminded of the nights I would write poetry for hours, expanding my vocabulary all the while, during my high school years.  And now here it all comes back, back in a story about running.  Running and poetry are both silent arts that scream out in their own ways.  For me they are both means to relieve pent up emotions; getting them out can do me a world of good.  But, never would I have thought I would see both of these together, especially not in a book I am so interested in finishing.

I'm amazed how much this book on running reminds me of things I probably would otherwise not remember about my past.  It was in beginning to write this post I searched for a song I heard on Carrier about a week ago, but I was unsuccessful in finding it and ended up with Modest Mouse in my lap.  Modest Mouse was one of those songs that played at some party that I never imagined being at in my high school years and stuck with me as a reminder of my past.  So there it is!

"And we'll all float on"... But, now I have only sixteen days before the run!  I was at mom's last night smearing lotion on my calves doing a bit of self myofascial release, but they're still sore.  I'm hoping I can get a good run in on Friday.  Maybe I'll even run into Rockford this weekend, grab a treat, and run back... back to somewhere.  I'll wait to see how the weather is and how the moving goes first.  Either way, I'm up for adventure!