Running the Lake

The summer before my freshman year of college, I was at my family's camp in the Adirondacks when I picked up a leftover Runner's World Magazine. My Dad's cousin had left them along with a note in the guest log that said "Had a great run to Canada Lake and back." When I read what she wrote I thought it seemed impossibly far (it is a 7 mile out and back), but I knew I wanted to do it someday. At the time I was running 2--3 miles a day and to me running seven miles was impressive and I wanted to do impressive things. I didn't do it that summer or the summer after but in 2002 I ran the route for the first time. Doing what I once thought was impossible. It was my first long run and the run that made me fall in love with running. A little over a year later I ran my first marathon.

The route runs along the shores of Canada lake and the one lane road meanders between cottages and the shore line. If you run in the morning you can often smell bacon and coffee and pancakes and see little kids still in their pajamas enjoying a lazy summer morning. I love the quiet and peacefulness of the route. But more than that I love that it is the run that made me realize that the impossible was possible.

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Every summer when we come up to my family's camp in the Adirondacks the run is a must-do. It is my all time favorite run because it is the run that made me fall in love with running. I ran it again this morning at 29 weeks pregnant. I wouldn't miss it even if I had to walk the whole thing.

I've run to Canada Lake and back a thousand times over. With running there is always a farther distance, a faster pace a new challenge. We are all capable of conquering what we think is impossible.

What made you fall in love with running? Have you ever conquered something you once thought was impossible?

--Sarah