Inspiration and motivation are everywhere, if you’re ready to see them.
Be open.
NP_BOS ran a #Sunrise6k this morning, running 2.5ish loops around the Western Ave — Harvard St. bridges with a couple of out & backs across the Weeks Footbridge. It’s a beautiful section of the river, and today the sunrise happened riiiiiight as the 5:30 group took off across the starting line. Other pedestrians were out on bikes, beginning their morning commutes, and runners were afoot, enjoying the same paths we were about to rip up with our racing. The scene was pretty perfect.
Then, along came Bob. He came upon our 5:30 group posing for the group photo at the starting line and he stopped his run–took out his headphone–to offer me a chance to get IN the group photo while he snapped the shot.
I threw his offer right back at him while inviting him to JOIN the 6k race… and Bob only asked when the race started (everyone shouted “NOW”)…before shrugging, stepping behind the start line, and taking off with the now really fired up 5:30 crew.
Pause on that.
Take a minute to think about how often any of us do what Bob did.
Think about the openness–The willingness to take a risk and jump into something that probably isn’t too weird/culty/off the wall, but that totally wasn’t in the plan. Bob needed all that to just say “YES” and start running with us.
Be badass.
Now take a moment to consider how easy it would have been for Bob to “start the race” with us, cross over Weeks Footbridge and bang a right onto the path toward Western Ave. and then just keeeeeeeep going away from whatever madness we were hoping he’d endure with us for the Sunrise 6k. I’m gonna be honest and tell you that I didn’t expect to see Bob back around the loop the first time…or the second time… and I definitely didn’t think we’d see him cross the finish line. Especially with a triumphant fist in the air and a smile on his face. Bob fucking raced the shit out of the Sunrise 6k.
Bob didn’t get up this morning hyped about his race. He simply got up, laced up his shoes, and went out for a run out by the Charles. He was open enough to join the race, and he was BADASS enough to finish the race. Who does that?!?
Bob does.
So was it a coincidence that the 6k course was shaped like a giant upper case B?
B for Bob?
Of course it’s a coincidence! but a damn awesome one.
It gives us all an opportunity to be grateful for humans like Bob, who remind us about living fully, in the moment, and stepping up, stepping into the unknown, and stepping forward toward adventure rather than back away from it.
So yeah, B is for Bob, and for being open, and being a giant badass, and for bananas. Bananas are great too.
Happy Sunrise 6k, folks. Have a great week–we’ll see you on Wednesday!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Track your Sunrise 6k time: in the NP Tracker.
Frogust starts on Wednesday in the stadium. Don’t know what that is? It’s okay…just show up and we’ll explain everything! 5:30 & 6:30am at Harvard Stadium.
Global Climbing Day is Aug 18th. Check out more info and show up for free indoor climbing that also supports a great cause.
NP Summit 6.0 is in Sept but sign up and make plans to go NOW. More info about the race HERE. And more info about it in general in the blog from Friday.
