by Casey McGuire

“This is my run. Though I have many like it, this is mine today. May my legs guide me with strength. May I guide them with courage. Together, may this run be perfect. I will charge up hills and ascend them steadily. I will race down them, and descend with agility and care. In the end, I will feel a personal sense of achievement and satisfaction. The only sorrow I will have is in knowing this run must end. Until then, I will run free and run proud. This is my run. I will enjoy each step, first to last.”

Yeah, I sort of borrowed a bit of that from that little rifle thing the marines say (obviously never a marine). I saw Full Metal Jacket again a couple of years back, and for some reason, came up with this the next day. I actually said this during my runs for about a year. I run alone, so I only sounded like an idiot alone.

No, I do not need a great deal of motivation, but I like to encourage myself anyway. There is nothing wrong with adding a little fuel to the fire, unless it’s actually a real fire that is burning uncontrollably in your neighborhood, but that’s an entirely different story.

I don’t recall why I stopped saying this, but I certainly remember it. I do still spit out a few lines of “pep” or whatever on the trails. If I may read even a little more odd, which I think I can, and borrowing from another movie, I’ll ask myself how strong I am, and how tough I am, right before reaching a good hill. Of course, my answers are, “Too strong,” and “Too tough,” which is, for all intensive purposes, true as the sky is blue. And, when it’s not blue, I’m still really tough and strong; it’s only the sky that’s different those days. Curious? I thought so. Borrowed those lines, or slight variation of them, from Remember the Titans.

Enjoy each step, first to last!

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