Burke Lake is a picturesque place to run. The trail, that looks different with each new season, follows the coast of the lake for 4.7 miles. It is home to runners, walkers, & bikers of all types. There are the faithful that have been logging loop after loop for years, the tourists, the campers, the weekend warriors, and then of course: there are the angels & demons.
In what seems like another life, I spent many a Sunday morning running loop after loop around Burke Lake while I was training for my first and second marathon. Today, I was reminded of how I felt during many of those Sunday mornings, as I rounded the corner right after mile post 1.0. Running towards me was a pack of high school girls. They looked determined, and well, lets face it—like “real” runners. They were lanky & thin, with strides that made any wanna-be runners green with envy. A few members of the pack had fallen behind, by a few strides–but really, for all intensive purposes, were part of the group. About two minutes later though, a lone runner came. She had a long bushy pony tail, and very clearly, at one point, had been a member of that pack. The difference was that she was crying while she ran. She was trying to dry the tears as they dripped down her cheeks, but without any doubt, was in tears. Now, I will admit–the tears could be from anything (she is a high schooler after all). Maybe her boyfriend broke up with her, maybe a girl had spread a terrible rumor about her, maybe….. but I knew in my heart of hearts, that the tears were another victim of the demons that inhabit Burke Lake.
Rewind to 2001. I was part of a running training program. We ran our long runs together on Sunday often meeting at the wee hours of the morning to beat the summer heat. We were grouped with “like” runners—people who in theory, ran a similar pace. My pace, then and still now–is slow. And for some reason the trail at Burke Lake has a quicksand effect on my legs…it is as if my legs are made of lead. So, during a run where we were supposed to run three loops around the lake….. somewhere during the first loop, my pace group sped up. Not by alot, but by just enough that combined with a slight incline just after the 3rd mile marker, was too much for me. They stayed within my line of vision- but going into the second loop, I knew I was alone for the rest of my run. Not long after, all of my confidence, and reasons for running melted away. I was the runner who “couldn’t.” The fast runners were looping me, my pace group was long gone, and I was done. I walked, I cried, I ran, I cried–and by the time I got back to the parking lot, I was an emotional mess. Coach R decided that instead of a pep talk, I would be best served by a lecture about not giving up. And so, wiping the tears from eyes, I plodded along. This scene replayed itself several times that training season, and again in the subsequent season. I continued to run…but was always, the runner that couldn’t.
Fast forward to 2008. I was faster (relatively speaking of course) and leaner–and actually had started to feel like a real runner. Running with a group from my gym, we decided to change things up- and went to Burke Lake. I had run it a few times since the old days, and for the most part, had conquered the demons and got through my runs without tears. But that day, with my group of friends…it all came back. My pace group had gotten faster while somehow I had regressed….and again, the demons rose up from the lake and brought me to tears. I was back to being the runner that couldn’t.
Today, my journey back to Burke Lake was a bit of a whim. Principessa had religious school close by, and instead of doing work, I thought about starting to train for what I think will be my goal race (a 14k in VA Beach in February). It was not about the long list of could nots…it was me starting on my journey towards can be. The bushy tailed high schooler to some was a reminder and to some degree an inspiration. As I continued my run, I came across a parent of a former student….who in many senses, was and always will be an inspiration for me. So today, although the demons swooped in on the bushy tailed high schooler, I was formally introduced to the angels of Burke Lake. They do exist…..you just have to be ready for them.
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What a neat post. I like how you contrasted the demons and angels. You are also lucky to have such a pretty place to run.