The Running Woman

Although I realize that the two words “Sarah” and “Palin,” when used together, make for the most viscerally charged phrase in American political discourse, rest assured this is not a political post. I had my fill of politics long ago and would be perfectly pleased if this blog never touched on the topic.

But a few months back the former vice-presidential candidate appeared in the I’m a Runner feature in Runner’s World — something that went largely unnoticed at the time, but became Big News a few weeks ago when Newsweek used one of the RW photos for its cover. Anyway, the interview had some nuggets that I enjoyed, precisely because they were apolitical. Such as when Palin was asked whether running is nonpartisan:

Oh, thank God, it’s nonpartisan. It doesn’t matter your background, your demographics, your race, your political affiliation—it’s such a uniting, healthy, fun, awesome activity. It cracks me up going to some running event and seeing some dude who campaigned so hard against me, or a lady who’s been blogging some mean comments about me. But we’re all there together and we’re smiling and we’re having a good time because we’re going to do something healthy and active. We need more of that. That’s what sports are able to do. It’s a wonderful kind of diversion from the divisiveness that is politics or that is life.

Amen to that. One of the worst aspects of American politics is it’s so dehumanizing, with Sarah Palin being the ultimate case in point. Politicians cease to be people; they’re symbols, to be reviled or revered depending on one’s ideological loyalties. Running seems to be one of the few aspects of American culture that has, so far anyway, been unspoiled by political tribalism, and that’s refreshing.

Then there’s Palin on getting through a tough race (the running kind):

(My dad) used to tell us to call on the rock during a race when we were hurting and we were tired and wanted to quit. He always told us to articulate what it is we’ve trained for, what it is we’re prepared for, and hold onto it when it hurts so bad in a race. We all have a different rock, but Dad inspired us with the knowledge that we could reach down deep and get strength from it. And that’s not just a lesson when you’re out there dying on the 23rd mile of a marathon but one for getting through daily life. Sometimes you’ve got to call upon your rock to get through the tough times.

So what’s her “rock?”

First and foremost, like my Mom’s inspiration has always been, I have my faith in God. Then I have all the preparation, so I know I can get through it. It’s kind of like I’ve been there before and the best part of the rock I can call upon is the preparation that allows me to know that I can get through it.

Nice to see her name her faith among the list. In my experience, when the road gets really challenging, it’s the only “rock” that still holds up long after the others have crumbled.