A Summer Evening on the Track

By: Joel R. Soza, DTh

It was a beautiful, mid-summer, Ohio, evening.  As I drove my vehicle to the running track of the local University where I taught, a few thoughts occurred to me.  One thought was how fortunate I was to have a profession that offered a number of perks, but being allowed to run, jump, and throw at the track topped them all.  I also thought to myself that perhaps on this particular evening I might have the track all to myself.  Now I certainly understand the need to share the facilities and the value of community fitness, but I must confess that parking the vehicle and looking at an empty track, that is mine and mine alone, at least for the moment, is like securing time alone with the dearest of friends.  The lonely discus cage was calling my name, as was the shot-put pit, the various jumps, and the javelin line.  Timing myself in the 400, 200, and 100 meter sprints also awaited my eager participation on the black pristine and vacated track. 

As soon as I began my warm-up run around the abandoned track fully prepared to align mind, body, and soul in a private time of track and field, well, there they were, a group of ten to fifteen members of what appeared to be some sort of family reunion, ranging from toddlers to old age.  It was evident that the track was a novelty to them and that they simply held a curiosity about such a sporting facility and those who trained and competed in the sport.  Most likely, one of them was there to visit the University and the track became a part of the self-guided tour.  All of them rushed the track at once, without any sense of track etiquette.  I quickly talked myself out of being frustrated and remembered that they have as much right to the track as I do.  I continued to run and as I did so I let my mind ponder the question as to why I spent my time doing this anyhow. 

The answer to the question was really quite easy.  Firstly, although I have run all my life, track and field has helped me to focus on personal strengths, in particular, the sprint instead of the endurance run.  Also, running has been standard fare for hunter and warrior alike throughout time and cultures and is basic to human survival.  It is an inexpensive and healthy hobby.  It is a sport which levels the playing field in which one need not have great size or girth and is rooted in ancient civilizations such as Greece and even Mayan and Aztec culture.  Track and Field even goes by the title “Athletics”, which suggests that its events define what it means to be athletic.  “Yes”, I thought to myself, “that is why I run, and that is why I hope to being doing this for many summer evenings, even into old age.”