Clarity brought forth by Cardio

The uneven cracks in the sidewalk always move perpendicular to my stride when I run. I can tell which lawns are tended to most regularly, and where the uneven dirt paths collide once again with the unforgiving concrete.

When I run, I have surrendered to the habit of looking down at the path ahead of me. For this reason, I recognize my regular running peers more certainly by their shoes and laces rather than their sweat-covered faces. For a number of years, as a distance runner, I’ve plotted my route before starting the stopwatch on my wrist and I take off at a jog only looking up at streets signs or passersby. At the beginning of this week, however, I uncovered a trail run interconnected with several other unexplored paths that had my sights set on the horizon, rather than the ground; up, rather than down.

The trail to Horsetooth Rock

On the western flank of Fort Collins lies an outdoor playground. Horsetooth Reservoir sees travelers in search of water sports, picnics, biking, jogging, boating, etc. At the foothills, just east of the Reservoir is Spring Canyon Community Park. Laden with just enough toddlers and far too many dogs, this is usually the point at which I turn around on my runs. Yet, just beyond this oasis of kids and canines, the Spring Creek Trail (west) connects with the Fossil Creek Trail. As opposed to Spring Creek, the Fossil Creek trail is not paved and has several branches from the main path suitable for mountain bikers and runners alike.

Nestled between the foothills and park, Fossil Creek trail winds amongst the knee-length brush and nudges you along the dark green tree line of Horsetooth Park. Like arteries to a heart, the fingers of the Fossil Creek trail dart around Dixon Reservoir, where fishermen whisper song lyrics either to themselves or to their potential catches.

Dually, the terrain was all but flat. By no means, was it a hill tempo run, but I cannot praise this area enough for the rhythm it urges runners to find in order to keep pace.

There are so many opportunities within running; be it for pleasure or with a competitive heart. Steve Prefontaine, running legend and Olympian said, “Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, 'I've never seen anyone run like that before.' It's more than just a race, it's a style. It's doing something better than anyone else. It's being creative.” It’s the creativity within running that I’m just uncovering.

As the sun ducked behind the foothills on a run the other night, the grasses around the thin trail on Fossil Creek remained a glowing orange. Crickets were fooled by the setting sun and began their nightly song. And I was able to watch this all in focus, and the whir of my running feet was now in my periphery.

What a fool I’ve been looking down for so long.

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