Sunday, May 29, 2011

Run with Me?


I slip my feet into my well worn running shoes, carefully lacing them up. I pull my pony tail through the little window in the back of my cap, tighten it around my head one last time and smile because I know I’m almost ready to go. I don’t stretch. I don’t groan. I don’t even take a deep breath. But already my heart is beating fast. I’m a wild horse, about to be set free. I can hardly wait.

I love to run. And running in my sleepy little Mexican town is as good as it gets. Wanna come? You might even find you like it, too.

It’s not so easy at first with all the mix-matched cobblestones jutting out here and there. It’s best to leap and skip and be a silly sight. But don’t worry, it’s not for long. And usually no one is around to watch. Or at least I haven’t heard any giggling yet. We round the corner, dodge a couple of sleeping dogs, and then we’re in the center of town. The taco lady looks up from her sizzle to give us a smile, her silver tooth catching a flicker of the sun. We smile back. It would be impossible to do otherwise.

Before you know it, we’re on our way out of town. The road rises up, the jungle leans down, and if you’re anything like me, your senses suddenly open wide. You breathe in the scent of mangoes, hear the bees, see the long tail of a blue magpie jay dance from tree to tree. You feel alive, free, infused with energy and hope, the scent of the sea riding the breeze as it gently whispers on your sun happy face.

It’s hot. Boy, is it hot. But it feels good. Like a cleanse. You sweat it all out. The stress, the worry, the things you forgot and the things you didn’t mean to say. Its just you and nature, your feet pounding the ground, your heart beating wildly, your pulse riding the wave with a smile all its own. All its own.

Its not until we start back into town that you notice how many people are out. Store owners readying their wares, patrons eating breakfast, employees sweeping the dirt along the street. They look up as we pass. Lucia puts her arm on top of her broom. Mario leans back in his plastic chair. Even busy Mama stops for a moment to see when we will slow our pace. “Go, go, go!” the butcher yells, his laughter kind and contagious. Yep, contagious.

And you? You smile. Smile like you haven’t smiled in years. Somehow you feel more connected than you did just yesterday. As if you are really a part of things, a human cog in the wheel of life--necessary, unique, appreciated and loved. That’s what jogging in my sleepy little town does, it reminds me, and now you, that when life is its simplest…its simply good.

20 comments:

Cody Young said...

Great post. I'm not a runner and never likely to be, but your description made me think I'd like to try. Great description.

aig63 said...

Love this post - great writing! I am a runner and have sometimes tried to articulate the imagry of a rural run on a crisp winter morning after a snowfall. Here you've done just that ever so wonderfully from a polar opposite perspective!!

Brynne said...

Thanks, Cody. Any time you want to try I'll meet you here. I'd love to show you the way...:)

Brynne said...

Thank you, aig63! Glad you liked it. Please let me know when you share/write about your run! I'd love to go with you, too!:)

Susan said...

Beautiful description Brynne, and a good reminder to notice the many important "little things" that are all around us that can give us pleasure and make us feel an important part of this world to others. Putting a smile on other people's face just by being... slowing down and enjoying what is right in front of us! Thanks!

Brenda said...

I am not a runner either, but it's something I ponder a lot when I am on the elliptical. Being a natural klutz I have visions of striking out on a run and tripping over a blade of grass and doing a swan dive and landing face down in a mess. I like the idea of it, even more so after reading your post. Scary, tho. I do walk a lot (not the same) but less chance of bodily harm.

Brynne said...

Beautifully said, dear Susan. Thank you! Its is true...I find greater joy when I slow down to really see. Funny though, that sometimes slowing down means speeding up...as in running:) Exercising in nature seems to have a certain magic to it. At least it does to me.

Brynne said...

Thanks for the good laugh, Brenda! Treadmills are even worse for that kind of thing, don't you think? I have been known to have my own idiot moments while running...often.
A few weeks ago I leaned down to pick up a nail to help with the flat tire thing and realized too late that it wasn't a nail but a lizard tail. Where do you live? You might have heard my scream. And then just two days ago I was so hot while running that I actually smiled at a group of people before I realized it was a poster. Nice, Brynne. Marcelo loves it because every time I go run I come home with a new story.

Bella said...

Brynne, I loved coming along on your run! Your descriptive writing makes it so easy for me and the rest of your readers to experience what you experience every step of the way! Even better is the fact that we're not going for a boring run, but instead, a picturesque one where we see unusual things, smell the wonderful aroma of tropical fruits and meet some of the locals. I don't run but if I did, I'd want to do it in your sleepy Mexican town! :)

kate said...

Brynne, that's a winner - smiling at a poster! I have done the same thing! It still makes cracks me up. You are such a darling.

Brynne said...

And I'd LOVE to have you along, Bella. I am sure you'd find something along the way to make me laugh...as you always do:) Thanks for the kind words, dear soul.

Brynne said...

Glad to know I'm not the only one, Kate! I was also glad no one was around to see me do it. I wanted to delete that moment as fast as I could! Its one of those 'only-funny-when-its-over-moments', no? Miss you, Kate!

Unknown said...

Hi, Brynne... saw you at 40 blogspot. I love your energy, too! This is a lovely post! I love finding the daily magic in life. I love the magic of the moon. I love running. I love sleepy dreamy towns in Mexico (though most of my running there involved me in tacones altos on those cobblestone streets). I love running, too, and writing about running,... though here in my W TX home it is not so... lovely.
Anyway... I love this blog! Just wanted to say!
stacey
http://wearnailpolish.blogspot.com

Brynne said...

YAY STACEY! SoOo happy to connect! Glad you found me! You really had me cracking up on Muriel's blog! Whew...who was that masked person? I loved how you came out of nowhere to stand up for Muriel. What a friend!

SoOo glad you like the things I do! Cant wait to read all about YOU! Happy TX day, sweet girl! Did I say how happy I am to have you here??! I am!

Jo Bryant said...

I felt the road under me and smelt the air - thank you for taking me with you. :)

Bella said...

Brynne, where are you girl? We miss you! :(

Brynne said...

LOVED having you along, dear Jo...as always:)

Brynne said...

Sorry to disappear like that...traveling a LOT but back in the swing very very SOON!!! I miss you TERRIBLY, too, my dear Bella!!! Book in the mail soon, tooOO! YAYYY!

Samantha Sotto said...

Hi! I'm back from my (loooong) trip. I've missed reading your lovely posts! Thanks for letting us join you on your run! (Hmm...I wonder if burned any virtual calories?) ;-)

Brynne said...

SAMM!! I missed you!! Did you have a happy trip??! I am on one now, too! Cant wait to hear more about yours! Hope you are happy to be home! I know the rest of us are glad you are back to us!! HUGS!