Runners

Last summer a bout of chikungunia stopped my running. The best I could manage on a good day was a short walk in the park. Many a runner passed me by during these walks. I have always known that different people run differently, but for the first time I started observing their running style.

And I realized there are so many ways to run!

The runner I admire most – or, let's face it, feel most jealous of - is the seasoned runner. This person's body parts move easily to the beat of an unseen inner drum, delicate and cadenced. Stepping softly to protect their knees and feet from the impact, they make running look effortless. The way they move their wrists or bob their head from side to side - it is as if a ripple passes over their body. This graceful runner seems not to run but to dance.

Then there are the vigorous, powerful runners. They remind me of soldiers exercising, forceful strides lunging forward, posture erect, muscles bulging, and no sign of fatigue. They look heroic, almost like they are going to charge into the battlefield. I have never aspired to be one of them; for me, running is very much an introspective act, not a martial one.

Once in a while, a voice inside my head says “That person should not be running” because even though this runner has come to the park dressed for a serious workout they are not physically fit for it. They warm up and stretch before confidently starting to run. But when they run into trouble, they have an almost surprised look on their face while panting for breath, as if to say, “I used to be an athlete, so why is this so hard for me?” Many of them carry on relentlessly, varying their pace with their energy level; others drop to walking to catch their breath before valiantly resuming their run. But who is going to tell them that running while unfit is a recipe for trouble or even disaster?

Sometimes I am taken aback, like the pair I saw one evening. One was walking briskly while the other ran in slow motion. Keeping pace with each other they remained engrossed in conversation. As far as I could tell they moved in tandem for the duration of their outing, seemingly violating the laws of physics.

Masochist runners run to torture themselves. You can see that every limb of their body is protesting and their face is contorted, verging on pain. Yet they carry on, one painful step after another. Why, I wonder, would you do it if you are not enjoying it?

Sometimes I see runners who get carried away. They start walking vigorously and then break into a spontaneous run. From their clothes and shoes you can tell running was not their plan, but they could not contain themselves at the fresh air or feeling of freedom. Their running style and posture is atrocious but who cares, they are enjoying the moment!

As for me, who knows? I have enjoyed running for almost four decades, but how does that reflect in my running style? I guess that's for others to judge. Would I like to know how you would categorize my style? Err – probably not!

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