As the Crow Flies

the crow athletics newsletter | issue 17
curated by patrick caron

Dear Subscriber First Name,

This past weekend I headed down to the local track in the early hours of the morning and proceeded to run a marathon. It was an opportunity to test my mental strength and to practice patience.

Practicing patience is a way of accepting the moment for how it is, and through realizing its challenges, coming to experience its gifts: the mountains on the horizon, the sunlight glinting off the trees, the pitter patter of my feet hitting the track in a steady and comforting rhythm, and the ability to move my body freely and with joy.

Practicing patience is a way of listening to our feelings and validating them. In doing so, we can often find a sense of calmness. As I circled the track, lap after lap, in the briskness of the air, I found a gratitude for the chance to “just be.”

As we enter into a new week, I invite you to explore what practicing patience means to you. Be kind with yourself, with the world around you, and with whatever the moments of your life bring.

The CAW

Have you read our latest post on The CAW? Erik Johnson, from Pownal, Maine, writes about the highs and lows of virtual racing, starting with his initial hesitation to even participate in them. Have you found yourself entering any virtual races or events this year? If so, what has motivated you to do so? If not, why? I hope you enjoy Erik’s thoughts!

The Highs and Lows of Virtual Racing by Erik Johnson

“Do I like virtual races now? No, not really. I still miss the people. I miss having a marked race course. I miss free snacks at the end.”
Read More ➝

Share your story!
If you have a story to share (and we all do!), we'd love to have your contribution. We have a submission form on The CAW's homepage, or you can email me directly with your ideas.

Crow Notes

• “One of the many gifts of long-distance running is the way it allows for us, in very real time and on a daily basis, to hit our own internal refresh button. Each time we lace up our shoes and head out onto the road or trail, we have the opportunity to be renewed and find something fresh in the midst of what can, at times, be a monotonous workday existence. Through healthy physical exertion, steady and vigorous breathing, and the consistent pitter patter of our footfalls, running brings us to a place of equilibrium, a place where we can revel in the very real possibility of starting over.” Andy Jones-Wilkins writes about how our runs can serve as refresh buttons, reinvigorating us and offering us a sense of hope that allows us to keep pushing forward. Does this sentiment hold true for you, too?

• “What happens if what you once used to make sense of things no longer helps you make sense of things? What happens if the patterns and habits and metaphors we lean on do not serve us in the moments we need them? What happens if the stories we tell ourselves about our lives leave us lonely, wrestling with meaning? What then?” Devin Kelly, whose writing I linked to in an earlier issue of As the Crow Flies, recently published a new article, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to read it. In his piece, he explores the emptiness and loneliness of a singular accomplishment, and the idea that meaning is found in shared experiences. Although I have mixed thoughts on much of what he writes, I appreciate his words. They cause me to reflect on my own life and pursuits, and reflection is always an important exercise if we are to come to greater understandings of ourselves.

Weekly Musing

Each week, I'll share with you a quote to reflect upon, one which speaks to us as runners, but more importantly, as humans. John Cage, a composer, music theorist, artist, and philosopher, reminds us with his words that through repetition and repeatedly engaging in an activity, we can come to find a new appreciation for that experience and see it in a new way, one which is more detailed, nuanced, and meaningful.

“If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all.”
John Cage

Thanks for reading Issue 17 of As the Crow Flies by Crow Athletics. We encourage you to forward this email and share it with friends, family, and anyone else who may have interest!

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Be well and run gently,
Patrick