People like us run and ride for a ton of reasons. Along the way, we experience pain, even invite it into our lives.

At other times, we avoid it. Try to block it out. Leave it behind.

It’s a strange set of sports that helps us do both. Embrace the pain for progress. Dispense with pain for recovery. It’s both an active and passive dance, and we haven’t even mentioned swimming.

The road itself does not heal us. But the idea of rolling down the road can. It loosens the spirit.

We mark some points on this journey with permanent memories.

“This is where I got hit by a car.”

“This is where I broke down crying after the death of my mother.”

“This is where I picked up a $20 bill.”

“This is where I heard John Lennon died.”

“This is where I saw that girl on a horse in her bikini.”

“This is where I quit that race and was so glad to be done I did not care.”

All these moments of dark and light and points in between.

Some are stains on our life. Others are the stains we release.

All I can say is that you have to keep running over the tarsnakes.

That’s how we all get over things. Past it. Beyond the pale. Call ourselves to account.

We run.

We ride.

We swim.

The wounds we carry with us and leave behind.