Running Against the Wind

 

Running into a 20 mile-per-hour wind is frustrating and seems like you are running in place! It's funny how when you are running with the wind at your back, life is wonderful and when you’re running against the wind, life seems...well, not-so-great.

This morning was one of those 20 mph days, so my first thought was “go out against the wind and come back with it.” My second thought was Bob Seger’s song, “Against the Wind.”

During an interview Bob Seger said that "Against the Wind" was inspired by his days as a high-school cross country runner. He described the song as "about trying to move ahead, keeping your sanity and integrity at the same time ... The people in that song have weathered the storm, and it's made them much better that they've been able to do it and maintain whatever relationship. To get through is a real victory.” 1 

 

“Running against the wind” is aging, weathering life’s storms, moving forward, and winning personal battles. Of course, the first step in “running against the wind” is to simply try!

In the movie “OneFlew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” , Jack Nicholson’s character plans to rip a drinking fountain from the wall and use it to smash the barred windows to escape. One of the other patients says, “Don’t be stupid, you can’t do that.” To which Jack replies, “Yes I can, anything is possible.”

He strains and strains but the drinking fountain does not budge. The other patients tell him, “We told you that you couldn’t do it.”

Jack looks at them and replies, “At least I tried, you bastards.”

To me that summarizes what I think about “running against the wind.” You’ve got to make up your mind to try and then keep going!

In running, as in life, if you simply make up your mind to try, half the battle is won. Then what remains is to determine which way to run. Here are a few suggestions:

Accept the Wind: Running into the wind gives you a tremendous mental edge. Relax, and remind yourself the wind is making you a stronger runner. And remember, there is always wind resistance when running.

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change...

Run Against the Wind: Run against the wind and learn to work with it. That is, deliberately head into the wind on your way out and then turn around and use the wind to push you home. Use the wind to grow stronger. As you adapt to the demand, change your pace going out and push a little harder.

...courage to change the things I can...

Respect the Wind: There are days when you have the extra energy to run in strong headwinds, and then there are days when it may make more sense to head to a treadmill. On your low energy days, have a back up plan. 3

...and wisdom to know the difference...

...living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace... be reasonably happy in this life…”4 even while running against the wind.

1. White, Timothy (May 1, 1980). "The Fire This Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 20, 2019.

2. Dean, Maury (2003). Rock 'n' Roll Gold Rush. Algora Publishing. p. 359. ISBN 087586208X.

3. https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a20794415/running-against-the-wind/

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_Prayer