Rave Run

The Runner's World website (an amazing source for all things running) has a feature called Rave Run, where various runs in exciting and exotic places all over the world are featured. Just yesterday, I was scanning through and found out they now have free wallpaper, so the picture to the left (of the Tour du Mont Blanc trail in Chamonix, France) is now my desktop background. Pretty much all day long I look at it and dream of going there and to the locations of the other rave runs. I mean, they just don't make runs like that in Philadelphia... right? Well, I ended up testing this hypothesis today without even intending to, so let me share with you my results.

Earlier this evening, I set off with Jason for the typical Kelly Drive run. As I said before, this run is really great, but I do it a couple times a week, and lets face it, its no Chamonix. As we were approaching Strawberry Mansion bridge, it started to rain. I love running in the rain, especially when it isn't too cold, so I was already pretty excited about this. Then I remembered how cool the view was from the top of the bridge when I ran over it a few Saturdays ago with the Philly Runners group, so I suggested we take the bridge and complete the short 3 mile loop.

As we crossed the bridge, the rain picked up a little. The sun was still out, and the rain coming down on the huge wooden paneled bridge was really pretty extraordinary. From the bridge you have a great view of the Schuylkill River and it made the run simply breathtaking (no pun intended).

At this point, you may not be convinced that this is a Rave Run caliber experience, and I'm with you... thus far. However, there is one more thing. On the bridge, I turned around and started running backwards to guard my eyes from the rain and saw the largest, fullest rainbow I have ever seen. It towered over the bridge and each end came down and touched the river. Absolutely georgeous. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera so I posted this picture I found on google that reminded me of it.

Would this run have been Rave Run material without the rainbow? Maybe. Maybe not. But the idea that awesome running experiences can only be found in exotic locations was certainly refuted. Ironically, my most recent fortune cookie said, "Treasure what you have," so thats what I'll try to do from now on, be it with running or other aspects of my current situation. In fact, I already did a search for cool places to run in Philadelphia. Next time: the Forbidden Trail (a 5.5 mile trail that cars aren't allowed to go on that is along the Wissahickon creek in Fairmont park - see picture). I'll keep ya posted on the Rave Run rating for that one. :)

I guess we shouldn't assume that good things only exist outside of ourselves, our life, our environment, in far off seemingly unreachable places. Perhaps they are always present, be it just down the road, just beyond our normal daily routine, or right in front of our eyes! And if we aren't open to this possibility, we just might miss out on some amazing stuff.