Simplicity

I love seeing runners out on the street.

By themselves or in a group. Day or night.

I don't know how far they are running, what they're running for...it's just nice and reassuring to see them out sometimes.

There are times I want to cheer them on as they run by, I really do. I'm just afraid they might perceive it as obnoxious heckling. So I don't utter a word - I just nod to myself in quiet appreciation.

I saw a trio running earlier today, two young girls and a guy. They were all smiles, fully engaged in whatever conversation it was that had them grinning ear-to-ear while they were immersed in a masochistic act that the relative few of us find so strangely pleasurable.

I saw a man in a Camelbak running on the streets at dusk. I imagined that he was in the middle of a 20-mile long run. Maybe tonight was the anniversary of a loved one's death. Or maybe he was just trying to save on gas by running from point A to B. Whatever the case may have been, he looked determined and hellbent on finishing his goal.

I saw a couple running together this evening. My eyes drew me to them by the reflection that emanated from the back of their running shoes. The woman was short and slightly overweight and the guy while fairly tall, was easily pushing 200+ lbs. But they were out there - god bless 'em, they were out there. And they were doing it together.

RUN
Function: verb
1 : to go faster than a walk; specifically : to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step

That's it.