There's never been a better time to be a runner. That's a statement I'll put in any context, whether your arena is the basketball court, the track or the wooded area behind Observatory Hill.
Fortunately, those of you here are blessed with a surrounding area that offers the terrain, the social connections and the racing forum ideal for an avid runner.
An elite number of the student population here had the fortune of being recruited or walking on to the cross country team, where sport becomes life.
For the rest of you, don't give up hope -- there are other ways to find meaning in a sport without joining a team. In fact, from what I've seen since first starting at the University, flocks of you are hitting the roads these days for that energetic outburst.
The most notable flock to me is the Cavalier Roadrunners, a group that now meets four times a week and runs around Grounds and on surrounding roads in Charlottesville. They also throw pasta parties, go to Arch's and drive to trails in the county.
I became heavily involved in the group during my first and second years. In high school I was one of the few cross country team members who preached running -- in Charlottesville, I found a large group with whom to preach.
Now, as a result of aggravation while training for the 10-miler during the spring of 2001 and my refusal to let it rest, I have had a long battle with the knee and have been in and out of injury. I am in my second go-round of physical therapy and, hence, I do not run. I'm pretty much limited to the pool and the weight room for any vigorous workout, so I'm now a full-time spectator for other sports such as basketball and tennis.
This personal twist is two-fold. Do I want my readers to run when I can't?
Aside from walking, which isn't your best friend in terms of adrenaline, running is the most flexible of all sports in terms of schedule. You've just got to break the routine of whatever you're doing and break into the fresh fall air. As blues artist Taj Mahal would say, "Take a giant step outside your mind."
You might wait until that midterm is over if you're just starting out, but in the end running is the ultimate motivator. It's important enough to work in whenever possible, whether it's an hour or just a quick 20-minute run to University Hall and back.
You see, the addiction never completely wore off. I won't run to catch a bus and yet I'm saying to do it when you can. Start simple. Whether or not the club running appeals to you, there are many races in the area to get involved in -- from five kilometers to the aforementioned Charlottesville 10-Miler, which takes place on the first Saturday of every April and generally fills up its 2,000 application slots. That means quite a few bagels afterwards, folks.
The competitive races are the ultimate motivators for the runner, but taking that giant step also can prove the chief negotiator. It's not easy to negotiate while racing, and I doubt that in the upcoming ACC Cross Country Championships in Atlanta that Virginia's Matt Ruhl, a Commerce School student, will be talking much about the bond referendum or his career options after Virginia.
Come out with the Roadrunners, and you'll find a group to kick back with and can take your mind off things. Running on your own can also be beneficial in creative thought, and even decision-making. I have a feeling that if all the world's political leaders went for a run before making ground-breaking decisions we'd have much less conflict.
At any rate, if you're looking for something cool to do, grab a pair of running shoes, do some stretching and take a journey around some unexplored area of Charlottesville.
So come run with the Roadrunners, and there's a good chance I'll be out there with you pretty soon.
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