My past, present collide

So I flew to Waco recently on business and I must say that my past and my present were colliding.

I wish I had kept track of how many miles I ran on the Bear Trail when I was a student (and when I was working at Baylor), but I didn't. I have no idea how many miles I ran on that familiar trail, but I know it was well over 200 (that's only 80 times around). I would run 3-4 times a week, and sometimes twice in one day. It was my way of leaving school for a moment and being by myself. At any rate, the trail was calling me...and I hit the pavement. It was hot and humid...everything I remember Texas to be, but somehow the trail seemed longer, but I know that's only because it feels longer to my 29-year-old self.

The campus was just coming alive again. The freshmen students had just moved in and didn't know the fantastic trail that awaits them! This made my run fairly uninterrupted and I actually only saw three other people on the trail. I felt good because no one was passing me up (ahem, there was no one running to pass me up, but who is counting?!?).

I had only been running about 10 minutes when I started to hear the familiar marching band sounds drift my way. The BUGWB was rehearsing their first show - an Olympic tribute. They sounded pretty good for only being together for about a week or so. I smiled as I thought of all the fun I had in the band. I know I am a band geek/nerd, but it really was a lot of fun. A lot of work, but a lot of fun, too.

I kept running, breathing in the heavy air, and then all of a sudden a young Baylor student huffed past me! I thought nasty thoughts about Ms. Perfect Legs, "...just wait 10 years and you'll be happy to even get out on a trail!" To be honest, she really only kept a small distance ahead of me and I saw her turn down the marked Bear Trail and I knew she must have been a freshman student paranoid about the freshman 15. You see, the marked Bear Trail really isn't the one everyone runs...unless they are new to campus (side note: there are now new, visible signs marking the trail and it starts in front of the Student Life Center, and not in front of Collins Hall) . Most people add about 1/4 mile to the trail by running outside campus a couple blocks. I felt a tad redeemed knowing that the passer-upper was probably 18.

So I huffed an puffed until the end of the 2.5 miles. I don't know my time on the trail...I used to be insane about clocking my time...I guess some things change over time. It did feel great to spend some time with an old friend...and some things never change.