Article July 18, 2011 Issue

The pure joy of running

By Shane Witters Hicks

I’ve always loved the pure joy of running. And I discovered my freshman year, as a first-time cross-country runner, that this activity came naturally to me.

My parents often took me running around the foothills of Golden, Colorado, when I was younger. But when I got into high school, it seemed like many people worried about running injuries. Stress fractures, shin splints—you name it. As a Christian Scientist, I find that it’s a great comfort knowing the truth about my relationship with a caring and loving God. Running to me is a strong expression of spiritual qualities, especially freedom and joy. When I take this to heart, there is no room for common jogging theories and anxieties.

Last summer, I began training with my cross-country team for my second season. (The season officially started in August but the unofficial training began in early May.) But by early June I began to struggle with back trouble. There was pain when I was doing common activities such as bending over or jumping, not to mention running. As fear started to grip me harder, the pain only grew worse.

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