IT'S OVER!

Runners training and careers are shaped and structured on the sound fundamentals of their sport and the ability to allow patience and common sense to prevail. My 30 day reverse taper, the gradual build up back to pre- marathon hard training , was ending on election night. A fitting ending as I have been holding back my energy. As I took the North Shore in stride I could not help but think of the unfolding history that was about to expose itself to our world and set a beacon for our future, especially our children. My runs the previous week have been preoccupied with the political wonders of this presidential race, coupled with anxiety over the state of the country and my Business.

Living here on St. John, who descendants are primarily from the slave trade, added extra measure to the historical event that I knew would follow later that evening as I took those hills and measured my worth as a person and as a father. As a white, uneducated 52 year old male, the stereotype would tell you what demo graph I should have supported in the polling and of course I did not. The 60's shaped my adolescent mind so strongly that I am forever sensitive to social injustice and prejudice. I have lived 32 of my 52 years, 11 in South Philadelphia in a black neighborhood, and 21 years here on St. John, as the minority race, and simply GASP at the difference the way society viewed race in the late 50's-early to mid 60's Philadelphia and what we now are seeing permeate the country, seeing all this through the eyes of my 7 year old son. He is still virtually colored blind, in stark contrast by my 7th birthday, as the lines had been drawn years prior. Here we go, turn the page!

My running follows cycles and reveals a lot about myself in simple moments of utter clarity as I traverse the hills. Getting lost in one's thoughts while briskly cascading through a national park is a positive forward motion into the future. Running for the highest office in the land is not much different than a runners daily excursions. Dedication, vision and confidence all play a major roll. Relying on how the masses view you in the realm of politics however is another story entirely. America has turned the page on an important chapter in it's history, and watching it unfold last night will hopefully make us a stronger, more unified country. I can only speak definitively for myself, but what seemed to have occurred last night is simply the result of a nations realization that it is finally time to move forward and work to leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren that nurtures them with peace and prosperity as they sow the seeds we planted on Nov. 4th 2008. And so I move forward on my daily runs and shape my future.

As I run along the sunset skies I can not help but feel we have all moved forward regardless of which candidate you supported. I often tell Luca, my son, "Today is the Tomorrow you where thinking about Yesterday". I will now be able to look back on election night 2008 and use it as an example for myself and Luca. The muckraking and finger pointing has subsided and we can get down to the task at hand. The dirt and earth that provides the foundation for my legs as I run does me no good if it is hurled at individuals we do not agree with. When we throw dirt we lose ground. I cover a lot of ground in my daily runs but no ground was as sweet as the notion that we CAN rise above antiquated cycles and become better people. Tomorrows run will be in honour of all who participated in the process on and up to Nov. 4th 2008! I have the utmost respect for every one of you who voted and participated in the electoral process and I commend all of you. Thank you for making history!