I took part of a 41,00 human being conveyor belt this weekend. Running the Monument Ave 10k in Richmond, Virginia, the largest 10k race in the country, was more than just a race, it was an experience. Paired with the excitement of Final Four VCU pride (the race actually ran through part of the Virginia Commonwealth Campus), 41,000 people all running in camaraderie is a hard thing not to be moved by, which is why I call it the human conveyor belt of inspiration.
Running is trusting yourself. It is learning how to obtain freedom from yourself while still remaining fully in tune with yourself and your body at the same time. Being just one person out of tens of thousands made not only my body move, but my spirit as well. There is something great found when the human spirit is magnified in numbers. On that street this Saturday morning — Monument Avenue — there was life. Monument was filled with excitement, blood, sweat, tears, rejoicing, failures, new accomplishments, trust, discovery, records, pain, cheering, camaraderie, and, most importantly, life.
We all have moments where we have the opportunity to take part in something greater than ourselves; make sure that the next time you are granted such an occasion, that you recognize it so that you can relish in the freedom that comes in moving along with the great conveyor belt of true life.