New depths

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The run started out easy enough, with a westerly breeze pushing us along the rolling gravel roads. The earthen tones of the landscape, left bare after a rapid melt, stripped away the snow, casting a long winter behind.

It has been a long time since my journey there.

And I’m left hoping that spring is here.

In less than 3 weeks, the Fargo Marathon will greet runners, once again serving as a celebration to a long training cycle – this year’s made more difficult by the bitter grip of the unseasonably cold spring. It serves as both the culmination of hard work and the beginning of a race season filled with shorter, faster events.

Since my last posting, I’ve joined friends in Fargo for a long training run, one in which we reflected on the tragic Boston Marathon bombings. While we logged long distances, we celebrated friendships and freedoms forged stronger by our sport.

I’ve kept a regular schedule for speed intervals, endured hours on a charter bus on the way to a productive work convention, and returned to the hills for a run on the gravel roads.

It had been many months, I don’t recall how many, since Tim and I had logged miles on the rolling hills southeast of Hawley. My journey took me up and over the Manmaker Trio – a trifecta of hills I named several years ago while punishing myself on hills to prepare for Grandma’s Marathon.

Out there, on the hills, I have discovered new depths of perseverance, determination and self-discovery. Many of the world’s problems were solved, at least those that existed at the time, over good conversation and wise words of friendship.

This past weekend, it was as though I returned to my running roots. I look forward to more adventures on those rural roads, and discovering new ones near my new home.

Soon, I will adventure on streets new to me, and find more country roads for my mind and feet to explore.

A defiant spirit

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As I climbed on the treadmill early Tuesday morning, still a bit sluggish from a long day of work at the newspaper, my thoughts turned to the Boston Marathon.

In an instant, the events Monday afternoon, at running’s premier event, turned an otherwise celebratory day – symbolizing the best in our sport – into a significant news story. As soon as the first email alert popped into my inbox, the question loomed: was it terrorism?

There is so much we don’t know. The days and weeks ahead will afford us many more answers as investigators delve into the evidence and tips pouring in.

What I do know, and what I can control, is my reaction to the tragedy. I’m inspired by a group of Grand Forks runners who gathered for an honorary run Tuesday night.

On my own behalf, I am motivated more than ever to qualify for Boston. Previously, on the fence about running the full marathon in Fargo next month, I am determined to do it – in defiance of whoever thinks terrorism, a cowardly and disgraceful act, will deter this runner. Our sport is about freedom, independence and humanity – I will not have that stripped away by some kitchen bombmaker.

I will proceed with my intentions to run Grandma’s Marathon in June. And I will continue training and running marathons until I qualify for Boston. Previously, I’ve been shy by just more than 2 minutes. When I do qualify for our sport’s marquee race, I will go there to celebrate – and remember this defiant spirit.

After Boston

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Some days running takes a back seat to life. On rare occasions, it becomes life.

But you don’t have to lace up shoes to feel the impact or shudder at the tragedy today at the Boston Marathon. Almost immediately, as we learned about explosions near the finish line, media jumped on the story. Email alerts filled my inbox, colleagues asked about local runners who might be in Boston and the news ticker at the bottom of the TV screen scrolled the latest updates.

So far, it appears all of the regional runners participating are accounted for. Here are stories from Grand Forks and Fargo. And another from Bemidji, where a friend was just 100 yards from where the bombs went off. Thankfully, initial reports are that everyone from the area is safe and uninjured. A few are my friends, others are acquaintances. Some I do not know other than recognizing familiar names from races around the area. My thoughts and prayers are with all of them and their families.

An act of terrorism tears open old wounds. It forces us to revisit conversations. We will be forced to ask tough questions.

But runners will pull together. Support one another. Defy the acts of terrorism through unity and strength of spirit.

In Grand Forks, the Red River Runners plan to gather at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the YMCA for a “special Tuesday Night Running Group,” with runners wearing blue and yellow to honor those who ran in Boston. According to the group’s Facebook page: “You don’t have to run if you don’t want….just be around running buddies as we reflect on what went on today.”