Maurizio did it!
No, I am not the Mauritius I am talking about.
Maurizio is my neighbor.
For the past year, my family and I have moved across the street from his house, and for the past year he has been saying, “Hey! Will you come for a run with me? Nothing strenuous…”
“Who? Me???? Are you kidding??? I never had breath even when I was 10 years old playing soccer with friends on the playground, let alone now at 42 years old, sedentary life, no passion for sports. No, no, go ahead. I don’t want to be a ballast to your relaxing moments.”
The skit was repeated for a dozen times until one fine day (a beautiful day two months ago) I said, “Okay, I’m coming!”
Two-year-old shoes, shorts and technical T-shirt (at least that one).
“Look it’s already good if I get to the stop sign at the end of the road,” I do.
“Don’t worry,” she tells me, always smiling, “Just do what I do, keep up with my pace, and you’ll see that you too can run.”
“Yeah, right… ”
We chat about more and less on the way to the park.
I find that he has been mountain biking and skywalking as an amateur but at a good level.
I find that he has always trained methodically and under the supervision of professional athletic trainers.
I find that he is very food-conscious, organic, eco-friendly.
I find out that he is involved in educational projects related to some schools in the area (while doing anything else to earn a living).
I find that he is a talker.
I don’t know why but this guy inspires sympathy and confidence in me.
We get to the park and he says to me:
“Well, we need to start running! Keep up with my pace and!”
Let’s start.
He seems to have no weight. Corre. Slowly, but he runs. His footsteps hardly make a sound.
Me? I look like an elephant with all four legs of a different length.
I stagger, I zigzag, I stumble. I don’t get one right.
No, no!!! I knew it. I didn’t have to be convinced!
Check this out: I look like Frankenstein’s monster after a rave party. What am I doing here?
No. No!!! I am already out of breath. My lungs burst (or collapse, I don’t know). I can’t breathe! I don’t see where I’m going!
But I’m on my way.
“Don’t speed up!!!” Maurizio tells me firmly.
I don’t have enough oxygen in my body to make any excuses, and I slow down.
Two minutes go by or maybe it’s ten…I don’t know.
I just know…but you know…look!!! I got your rhythm! Yes! Yes!!! My lungs are bursting but my vision is no longer blurred. The arms move in time with the legs. Every three steps the oxygen comes in and burns my airway but always every 3 damn steps.
I can still hear their thuds on the ground but they are regular thuds.
The heart runs fast, it is true, but it has caught the rhythm of life.
I AM A RUNNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“That’s enough for today!”
But how “enough?” Just now when I had just recovered after hitting the bottom of physical pain, after searching for air in all the meanderings of my body?
“We did 22 minutes. As a first outing, I would say it’s not bad,” says Maurizio.
“22 minutes??? Are you serious or is your watch broken? Swear to me it’s true!”
“Yes! 22 minutes! How do you feel?”
“I don’t know. Well, I guess (although my body is screaming in disappointment). My legs are like two boulders and I’m afraid it will take the tow truck tomorrow to get me out of bed but…I feel light!”
“And you’ll see the next releases. By the way: will I see you again on Thursday?”
“If I make it through the night, gladly!”
Last Wednesday, after two months with only two weekly outings, we ran for an hour straight.
In the meantime, I have equipped myself with new shoes (my joints have nominated me for the Nobel Peace Prize) and technical clothing.
I always go as slowly as before, I always have my fits, but I know that after the darkness there is always light. I know that after the crisis, my body will find resources it didn’t know it had or that had simply gone dormant from too many hours on the couch.
I’m fine.
I am fine when I run. I’m fine before I run. I feel good after running. I feel good about myself. I am fine with others.
Fatigue no longer scares me. She became a friend, an ally. I know it brings out the best in me.
I have more energy.
I have more life.
Alberto (a runner)
P.S.
The other day we were talking about signing up for a half marathon to be held in May in Riva del Garda.
“Why, are you crazy? No, no, it’s not for me..and then who can run 21 kilometers? No, no. If you want to go you go, but I’m staying home!”
Maurizio smiled again.
See that he succeeds this time too!
(Photo credits Padurariu Alexandru)