Bismillah, Ir-Rahman, Ir-Raheem, I breathed, starting my usual five-mile run during break (at work). It was late afternoon, almost evening, my optimum running time. I’d slept well the previous night, stretched well before the run, and eaten well earlier—the three essential components of a good run.
I felt myself picking up speed as I raced down the ramp near the beginning of my run, but the feeling of lightness didn’t end with the descent. Today, unlike some days, when the ascent required effort, I felt as powerful on the first uphill, as I’d felt on the initial downhill. The absence of sidewalk, and the fact that I was sharing a major roadway with 40 – 60 mph traffic did not strike a ripple in the utter calm of my mind. Nor did it diminish the feeling of power in my legs. Ujjayi Pranayama (yogic breathing technique) really worked.
Ahead was a light rail crossing which I traversed each day during my run. "Please God, don't let a train come through just as I arrive at the crossing," I prayed. Even if I ran in place while waiting for the train to cross, such an event killed the momentum of the run. Then it would be "The thrill is gone, Bernie."
As I got close, I heard the whistle. I’d just raced up a hill which some might consider a monster, but I was in the zone, barely breathing. Alas, the train was approaching, and the gates began to lower, barring traffic and the odd runner from crossing in front of it.
In an instant I knew what I must do. I speeded up, and in a few swift strides, I’d crossed from the road shoulder, to the center of the road, where there was a small gap between the railroad crossing gates. Then—to the consternation of motorists patiently lined up at the crossing—I slipped through the gap. I flew over the tracks and to the other side, just ahead of the train, epinephrine pouring out of my adrenal gland. So much for calm. I completed the remaining several miles of run in overdrive, and made it back to work just in the nick of time, with only my secret smile betraying my workout victory to my co-workers.
