The Epic Run

After church on Sunday, I went out for a run.

It was almost an Epic Run but not quite. It was foggy and humid. Visibility was about a quarter of a mile. Some of the heaviest fog I've seen in a while.

Had a good, solid run in the fog. I did wear my bright lime green hi-visibility jersey. And it was just cool enough to wear the white gloves and a head band.

Visibility was just enough to take make the run a bit less than Epic. And usually an Epic Run is a bit longer than I went (3.42 miles) on Sunday.

I've had only a few Epic Runs in my life. If I had too many then they wouldn't qualify as Epic. Probably the first one was Grandma's Marathon in 1979 where I blew up and barely finished. My first and only marathon. So far... Most marathons will qualify for Epic Run status.

And then there was the time I went running with a coworker: Dick Beardsley. We worked at a running store together while I was in college. He was recovering from a bit of knee surgery (only way I could keep up with him) and wanted to go for a run. We left from the store in Dinkytown (Minneapolis) and ran down into Saint Paul. We did about 4 or 4 and a half miles. In -40 degree windchill. At night. On ice and snow. I don't remember the actual temp just the wind chill. Still the coldest I've ever run in. But that run instantly made Epic Run status. For me at least, not sure about Dick.

And back on July Fourth last year I went out for a run. It was drizzly and warm. Traffic was very light and no one, absolutely no one was out on the roads and trails. I had the route all to myself. And I flew. I ran the 6 and a half mile course faster than I ever had (at the time). And I took great pride in the fact that I had been out there when no one else was. My running log for the day starts with: Epic Run!

There have been other Epic Runs over the years. If I'm lucky there are one or two a year. Runs that just stand out by virtue of being over. A twenty miler in rain the whole way. Personal bests that come on days when I didn't want to run. Runs in extreme heat or against a north wind at 25 mph. Runs in fresh snow early in the morning on streets and trails unmarked by anything except the rabbits. A race with both of my kids when they were young.

There are two things every one of my Epic Runs have: I run. And I am smiling like a fool when they are over.

There isn't much else in common between the Epic Runs. Some are with other people, some are solo runs. They can come at any time in any season. They can almost never be planned.

An Epic Run is an unexpected valuable gift. They are to be treasured since they are so rare.

And I've found that I can put in a bunch of ordinary runs on a bunch of ordinary days waiting for the next one...