Running Can Be Risky Business

Greetings! Over the holiday weekend Shannan and I logged a lot of miles. One of the days I joined Shannan for a walk at Kennesaw Mountain Park. We walked at the base, up the mountain trail, down the paved roadway and a bit more around the base. It was a beautiful morning. The clear sky provided stunning views of the metropolitan Atlanta area from the mountain top. We have exercised at this location many times for well over ten years. In 2004, I was training for the Mount Marathon race up a mountain in Seward, Alaska.  As I’ve noted in previous posts, there is not really a good place to adequately train for that race, I didn’t know that beforehand.

Nonetheless, long after the race I continued to run up and down the mountain trail at Kennesaw. Many runners do the same. This weekend, as we ambled up over craggy rock out cropping and protruding tree roots. I reflected how dangerous it is to run on the trail. I mentioned it to Shannan. Then I really began to pay attention to the landscape. It is not ideal for running, particularly downhill. I recall being mindful of sharp turns, narrow pathways and jagged rocks while running. However, it was this moment of going slowly and deeply investigating the terrain that I recognized the many terrible possibilities that a single misstep or slip of the foot could bring. 

Shannan pointed out accidents can happen anytime walking or running. Perhaps I’m getting too old. I vowed in the future I would only run up hill, as if that is any less dangerous, and take the paved route down.

Run Carefully.

Tom