Heaven: Re-Visited



In the late summer of 2006, I entered what I now regard as the greatest week of my life. A time when I was among the best of my friends, above my preconceptions, and beyond the limits of my body. I was in love with where I was, whom I was with, and what I was doing.

I know full well, that I cannot go back there as I once was. But I can gather my thoughts, my memories, and my lessons, from this euphoric time, and hope to transpose them onto a new beginning.

Leaving 100 Acres and XC was an end, but I am now entering a new beginning. Symbolizing renewal, as well as change. I now an alive, in full spirit, with three great young men, whom are all passionate about our lives, or ambitions, and our hopes.

But today, something was marked. I brought a good friend, whom has no organized athletic background into my happy place. I took him to Appleton, with my other marathon veteran buddy.

If there was one place, that could entice one to try a run one more time, it is this place. And it was this place at sunset, that elicited the giddiness of a summer day in the backyard.



When I was a child, I recall coming downstairs into the living room, where my parents were casually watching a poorly transmitted video signal of the world’s most prestigious road race – The Boston Marathon.

I watched it with great enthusiasm and vigor, irrespective of their paces, their training or their form. I simply watched these great men and women run something which was distinguished, from beginning to end. I was inspired.




I went out to my backyard, (less than one acre) and ran several laps around my yard. Imagining I was running the Boston Marathon. Running the world’s most prestigious road race.

Then I ran it.

Running Boston in 2005 was the greatest day I’ve ever known. There’s no denying that. But the other day, I watched a brother and sister whom are my neighbors, go outside and ride their bikes to the end of the block, and back. Then back out to the end, and back again. I had just stepped outside to start a ride on my bike, after watching the Tour de France on television. I , like before, had been inspired. And instantly I was sucked into a vortex of paradoxical regressions, unprecedented in scope or in depth. I was this 7 year old on his bike again. And I have never felt stronger.



But today, I was inspired again. My rookie running buddy, ran in my old shoes from Disney. Five miles in my happy place. At one point, he stopped to walk for a few minutes, then began running again. To which he said “Weird, it actually feels more comfortable to run than walk”

Following this, we decided to take a swim. We all swam, and my new running buddy ended up piercing his pad on the bottom of his foot, ushering us to the ER on a Sunday night. After being stitched up, he stuck my old shoe from Disney back on his bandaged foot, claiming “Its all ‘numbed up, no worries”

I am beaming with pride.

This is heaven, re-visited.