Breaking in part 1
Got out and ran this morning. Took it super easy the last few miles. Only my second pair of Asics GT-2000, so I have to break them in properly still. But it was definitely better with the new shoes. We’ll wait to see how the ankle feels in the morning, but I am now on the road to recovery. I can’t wait to be able to really turn on some speed and be confident that something isn’t going to tear in the process. I have decided to try to increase mileage a little this year, and increase speed.
It was a decent day to run, I definitely enjoyed it. I ran by the courthouse with my name on it. Thought of how my ancestors, either directly, or by lack of care caused the deaths of the natives in the area. It was kind of heavy. I was thinking about it, because as I pass people on the sidewalk, I tend to make myself as small as possible, and I felt like I got some side eye from a woman. I didn’t mean to insult her or make her feel like I was acting strangely. She was wearing a hijab, and I hope she doesn’t think that’s why I drew my arms into my body. I just didn’t want to accidentally have my arm swing hit her and wanted to make sure she had as much room as possible while I was running down the sidewalk.
That’s what got me thinking about the other thing, because I passed the courthouse right after. I thought it was a good metaphor. Maybe the way to make up for all that is to take up as little space as possible, from a sociological standpoint. How else can one make up for all these past sins? You can’t. You have to step aside and let those who have been pushed down over the generations catch up. You must stand aside, you have to be humble, you have to show you’re sorry, not say you’re sorry. Apologies aren’t words, words don’t fix anything.
In that, I had even earlier in the run seen several signs on lawns which read, in a few languages, “No matter where you are from, we’re glad you’re our neighbor.” Now, regardless of the gentrification and other problems we have in my city, that is one thing that is cool. All in all this is a fairly inclusive place. There are still shitty people doing shitty things. There’s poverty and bullshit, but at least people generally let people be themselves and respect and accept that. Now, if we can just lift up those who have been kept down for so long. There’s lots of work to be done.
Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil can run then so can you!
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