Running Into Nature (Journal)

Billy Petersen
Professor Williams
Nature Journal
12/4/19
Running Into Nature

        After a long week of midterms, I needed to alleviate some stress. With caffeine still flowing through my body, I needed to get rid of some energy and clear my mind. I have never been much of a runner but going to the TCU rec center wasn’t going to cut it. I needed to free myself from people and other distractions on campus. People always rave about running on the trinity trails, so I decided to give it a try. Although I don’t usually find running peaceful, I wanted to challenge myself and spend the beautiful day outside. I figured the combination of running and spending time in nature would be the perfect way to unwind after a long week.

        My run got off to a slow start. I couldn’t focus on anything other than the fact that I hate running. I needed to get in the zone fast or I knew my run would end abruptly. I tried focusing on things other than running, but my mind was persistent on thinking about how my body felt. The poor bounce in my step, the burning in my throat, and the realization that I need to do more cardio was all I could think about. But then I started to notice my surroundings. The sun was setting creating a beautiful glow off the river. I began to see bass jump and small bait fish ripple at the surface. My negative thoughts were slowly transferring to focusing on the beauty of my environment. Before I knew it, my legs were moving almost robotically and all I could focus on was the nature around me. I started to think about our class discussions on Thoreau and Edward Abbey. Living in a society where we are dependent on technology and other materialistic goods, it is easy to forget about the importance of our environment. I began to understand why Thoreau left the city and confined himself in the forest for two years. Although I would never go to that extent, being away from a fast-paced society that has destroyed much of our environment is a way to understand what truly matters in life. As a college student who gets wrapped up in the pressures of school, I sometimes need to take a step back and realize how fortunate I am for the opportunity’s life has given me. Spending time in nature allows one to unwind and put life into perspective. Before I knew it I had been running for an hour and I couldn’t believe how quickly the time had passed.

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