My Campus Fix

I like to include a run on the Davidson College campus in my weekly workout mix. Lucky for me, the weather cooperated with me this morning, and I was able to run.

It's a simple thing, running from my kids' school in Davidson to the campus, but it brings me so much joy. I run around Roosevelt Park to see if there is any wildlife to be found. (There's usually a gaggle of geese.) Then I head to the college, where I find professors and students walking briskly to class toting their coffee and backpacks, their heads filled with new ideas and theories. Everyone always gives me a friendly greeting, but it's quick and to the point, as we all have things to do.

My job is to head to the track, where I can run as many laps as I want. My bad knee loves this part of the run because the track's surface is cushioned. It's like a spa day for my right leg. There are usually athletes on the field training for whatever sport they play for Davidson. Sometimes it's track and field, obviously, and other times it's conditioning for football or lacrosse. There are always a few townies getting their laps in by either walking the track or running up and down the stairs of the bleachers.

I treat the track as my personal meditation oval, a place where I can lose myself in my thoughts and know that I'm not going to run into traffic — literally. Between my solitude and the fresh air, running here gives me a sense of peace that I'm able to carry with me the whole day through.

When I head back to my car at my kids' school, my coffee is waiting for me, along with the rest of my morning. I feel energized and ready to take on whatever shows up in my inbox — all because of 45 magical minutes.