“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
-John Muir
Run with me! Love, Austin
Back in the day, I lived in Austin, Texas. Fresh out of college, I moved there to attend graduate school. It was love at first sight.
I remember driving into town across Congress Street bridge. The most beautiful sunset was painted in the western sky, yet all the pedestrians were earnestly gazing to the east. “What in the world are these people doing? Are they weird?” I asked myself. The answer is still up for grabs, but what they were looking for were the bats soon to be flying into the setting sun. It’s “a thing”, in Austin. An experience you’ll have to see with your own eyes. It was a hilarious introduction to a city that would become my home for many years.
Recently, I traveled to Austin once again. The dirt tracks were screaming my name. The running trails looping around Town Lake (today Lady Bird Lake) are so whimsical, so beautiful, so nostalgic. No matter what season it is, I find so much peace on these trails, grinning from ear to ear with each step I take. In the spring, the wildflowers are in full bloom. They are my favorite.
Fifteen years ago, living in Austin after a car accident that left me with two broken cervical vertebrae, I was sporting a halo, wondering if I would ever run again. This year, while in Austin, I ran the marathon, breaking inner walls and achieving a personal best record. So surreal. A deeply personal experience for me. Needless to say, there were tears of gratitude involved.
The gratitude I have for my body these days is unmatched. I have come to realize very clearly that our bodies are our true Home. That no matter where life takes me, I can find Home within myself. Our bodies are so resilient. What’s not to love, no matter what shape they are? No matter what musculature is revealed to the physical eye, our bodies are so strong. We are so strong!
Think about what our bodies do for us on a daily basis. All the automatic functions it performs so that we can eat, drink, rest, run, think, execute, get from one place to another. Without fail, we wake up and go. How amazing is that?!
I remember running around the lake in Austin hearing an inner voice, my inner coach, teaching me to run: when to slow down, when to pick up the pace, always reminding me “We are all running our own race”.
Life is about progress, not perfection, I’ve learned. And running has allowed me to have so many mountain-top experiences, the exhilaration of pushing myself to my limits and going beyond where I thought I could go. Traveling to other places to experience something brand new, both externally and internally.
If you find yourself in Austin, I encourage you to check out the running trails around the lake as well as amazing trails in the Greenbelt within the city. Barton Springs Pool is a great place to go to cool off and chill, rest your feet after the long run and hang. The waters are healing, set at 68 degrees all year long.
And if you’re in need of a pick-me-up, check out Jo’s Coffee, both the downtown and South Congress location. Best coffee in town, in my opinion. While you’re on South Congress, Guerro’s for tacos and salsa cannot be beat: great food and lively atmosphere with jam sessions under a canopy of trees. And I love San Jose Hotel. Even if you aren’t staying there, check out the patio inside the magical gardens, near the outdoor pool. Great place to work on business projects or just shoot the breeze and relax. The birds will sing to you, keep you company.
Obviously Austin has captured a piece of my heart. I believe its spell will engulf you with tons of love for adventure, too. Tell me: What are your favorite places to run? What’s your dream city to live in? What do you love most about the trails where you live? What’s on your adventure agenda? What’s up next for you? I would love to hear from you. Send me an email and tell me all about it! Whatever you lights you up, go do that now! #YouGotThis
Tons of love,
Micah
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