It was winter, and I had made plans with my training buddy to go on a three mile run on a Sunday morning. (I was feeling a little guilty about that, as I was intentionally skipping Sunday Mass to run instead. Do you see the internal emotional struggles I deal with on a daily basis?) Actually, my friend was going to do more like a five or six mile run, and I was going to meet up with her somewhere in the middle and cover some of the distance with her. (This was earlier on in my training, and at the time, six miles was just an impossible distance for me to comprehend.) We picked a location and a time for me to meet her mid-run. I got all dressed in my winter running attire and headed out the door a few minutes early.
It’s funny how when you start running outside, you get a whole new perspective of the weather. For example, if it’s 40 degrees out, I would be wearing long pants, a sweater, gloves and my winter coat and would probably still be cold. But, when I’m going out to run, 40 degrees is perfect weather. I have on thin running pants, running shoes, a long-sleeved tee and I’m good to go. I’ve learned that if it’s between 20 and 30 degrees outside, I require two pairs of socks, a hoodie, ear muffs and gloves. If it’s under 20 degrees (yes, I know it seems crazy to run when it’s 15 degrees outside, but I’ve done it) I need two layers of just about everything. I much prefer cold weather running. If it’s cold, you can layer. If it’s hot…uhhh there’s only so much you can take off. Plus, I wouldn’t want to scare any neighbors or small children. Today was a brisk 33 degrees. I dressed in the appropriate gear, grabbed a water bottle for the car and headed out. I skipped church. (Please God, don’t strike me down. I promise I will atone.) My running partner was right on time. When I parked my car, I saw her running up the street and only had to wait about one minute for her to get to me. She didn’t even slow down! It was like we were in a relay or something. She was in the groove, waved, and I just began trotting right beside her.
We began our comfortable rhythm of running and talking and motivating each other to stay strong. The skies were grey and there was snow on the ground but most of the sidewalks were clear. We were running along a pretty major road in our area. It was five lanes of traffic, with sidewalks, businesses and subdivision entrances along the way. It was almost eerily quiet that morning. There were hardly any cars out, and we certainly didn’t pass anyone on the sidewalks. We had run about one mile, and the world seemed deserted that cold, grey Sunday morning. (Or, maybe everyone was just at church.) It was then that I saw one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen in my life.
As I said, we had been comfortably chatting and for a few moments and had both just settled into the comfortable quiet of our run. All we could hear was the sound of our feet pounding on the sidewalk below. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, we both saw it at the same time.
About a block in front of us at the intersection of the next road we were approaching was where the apparition appeared. We saw a HERD OF DEER running down the middle of the road. Holy Crap! Twelve Deer. I’m not kidding. One. Dozen. Deer. 48 hooves, galloping in unison, racing down the middle of the five-lane road. I don’t remember suddenly being beamed over to the Serengeti...What the hell was going on here?!? They seemed to appear out of nowhere. As they ran through that intersection, my running partner and I looked at each other with our mouths wide open and just stared in amazement. “Did you SEE that?!?” We both exclaimed at the same time. Sure, I had encountered deer before...a crazy one leaping across the road into the woods (usually at night when you have to swerve to avoid crashing your car), or maybe a couple gathered in the distance near someone’s backyard or a park. I’ve even seen the graceful mammals lazily strolling around a zoo exhibit... but nothing like this. We live in a suburban city about 15 miles outside of Detroit...definitely not what you’d consider country-living. It was as if we witnessed Santa’s reindeer on a training expedition or something. I almost expected to see the jolly man dressed in a red running suit chasing after them. To see so many agile, elegant animals running so gracefully in such a bizarre place… it was magical and powerful and just simply incredible.
My running buddy said it was our “spiritual experience.” It was definitely something, that’s for sure. I ran in amazement for the next two miles. It was during this period in my life that I had discovered a new passion: writing. I had written my first novel, had begun blogging and was contemplating writing Ruby Blue. (It was still just a story in my head at this time.) I was also on a journey of creating balance in my life…equalizing my own needs with that of others, and figuring out a healthier way to continue on living.
After being reminded of this extraordinary event the other day on my drive into work, I decided to see if there was some reason why I am always so mesmerized and enthralled when I see a deer. During my research, I just about fell out of my chair when I read about their history and symbolism. The Celts (and some Native American cultures) believed that deer were associated with the fairy realm. It is also said that the deer calls us to explore our own magical and spiritual nature. If you know me at all, you know that I am all about discovering and creating our own magic. And, many of you may be aware that Ruby Blue is a story I’ve had in my head for many years involving fairies. (Thud! Insert me, falling out of my chair.) Hmmm. Strange. I went on to discover that throughout many cultures, deer symbolize regrowth, grace, creativity, spirituality, gentleness in word, thought and touch. They also represent the ability to listen, and appreciation for the beauty of balance. Balance. There’s that word again. (And me, falling out of my chair again. Dammit.) Maybe that’s why I’m so drawn to the graceful creatures.
As I head into my second summer season of running, I’ve decided something big. I am going to run the Detroit Half-Marathon again. Tacking 13.1 miles is no easy task for me. With less than two years of running under my belt, distance is still very daunting to me. But, one thing I have learned over these past two years is that we are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. To be a runner requires no special skill. A pair of running shoes is about the only thing you really need. Young, old, sick, healthy, overweight, bad knees, artificial limbs…I’ve seen it all…If you can walk, you can run. It might not be pretty. It might not be fast. But that doesn’t matter. You are capable of more than you think you are. Sometimes, having the courage to begin something new, whatever it might be, is the hardest part of the process. Of course, then, finding the balance to incorporate that “something new,” can be equally challenging. But, it can also be extremely rewarding. Find that balance. It's worth it.
In my entire life, I have never witnessed a dozen deer running down the road in the city that I live in, until that day. It just goes to show you that there is a first time for everything. Maybe, it was a sign that I was supposed to see. Maybe, I was right where I needed to be that day, instead of sitting in the pew at Sunday Mass. Maybe, that particular day, my soul and my body needed to get stronger in different ways. It amazed me. It surprised me. And it literally took my breath away. Running will do that for you. As will many other things in your life, if you are open to experiencing them.