At the end of a long week of teaching, I found myself sprinting across campus to fulfill my student-teacherly obligations. I had just submitted two forms containing my cooperating teacher’s evaluation of my performance, along with a detailed layout of next week’s lessons. I had to get to another professor’s office so that I could discuss a lesson I could barely remember. My red tie was bouncing on my shoulder, and my knees ached from the cold weather. Had I remembered to give that student all of her homework for the next week so that she could go on vacation? Was I meeting with Nate’s parents on Monday or Tuesday? Holy crap, I had to submit my portfolio soon. Did Dashawn ever give me a note for missing fourth period?

When I got home on a Friday afternoon, I was exhausted. I laid down my bag, untied my tie, and undressed. I struggled with my dress shoes until my feet popped out like a couple of dark corks. Then I pulled on my beat-up running shoes.

My longest run of the week is always on a Friday. After five days in the eighth grade gauntlet, my thoughts are tangled, my body weary, and my emotions running high. To get out on the road for an hour and a half, just me and the elements…

Well, it untangles me. It energizes me. It brings me peace.