I’m a small town kind-of-guy.
How do I know this? Well, I was recently in the “Windy City” for a two-day conference. The city of Chicago from where I saw it was a beautiful, vibrant and exciting city. The skyscrapers were something to behold…Chicago buildings are noted for their originality rather than their antiquity.
At night along Lake Michigan, the city is an array of colors, with colors of whites, blues and the constant streaming of red taillights. And running along the lake was one of the most beautiful places I have run in a long time. The paths were filled with runners, walkers, in-line skaters and the never-ending lines of bicycles.
But there are also 3 million people living in the city. For all its beauty, the large city also seemed a little impersonal. Everyone in a hurry to catch a bus, taxi, cross the street, and drivers trying to cut you off when you are waiting for the white light on the pedestrian light signaling it is ok to walk. In the span of two days, I ran along the lake and by the Navy Pier…again beautiful, but I felt as if on another planet. Rarely did I see a friendly face acknowledging me running past…everyone was in their own world with ear buds in while listening to the latest download on their i-Pod. Even people walking along the street seemed disconnected, as they too wore headphones to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
I guess that is the one thing you can count on in a smaller city. Yeah we might not have all the fancy, upscale stores with the latest fashion trends, and on a Saturday night it might get a little boring….but that is ok. At least you can count on a friendly face, an slight nod or hand wave as you run or walk by…..and if stopped by a stranger….it is just a friend that you haven’t met yet. The feeling of the small city or town is like a hand and glove….there is a connection and it just feels right.
My life on the run 