Every Runner has a plan....
A route... even in the most liberating free runs... you start with a plan...
It's part of running...
You know when you lace up....
Or at least you have an idea of what direction your run might take you...
Trail...
Pavement...
Streets...
Deserted country road...
You start out with a glimpse...
but that is all...
A mere glimpse...
You never know exactly where the trail might lead you...
What whimsy you may find along the way...
A deserted old deer trail that may call your name...
Or the scent of some new bistro...
All you know is that your going out...
Your going to find some new adventure...
and your going to come home refreshed and full of a new story...
No matter what direction the trail may lead you...

And that was always enough for me...
I never thought to question it...
I never thought that it might be important to share my whimsy with someone...
Until now...

Saturday marks my first "timed" and "registered" 1/2 of the year...
But it also marks something else...

Saturday I'll be running for a girl named Sherry....
Someone I've never met...
Someone who I would probably never cross paths with...
Or who's live I would never impact...
Sadly...
I'm running for someone who has made an impact on my life....
Today...
I realized...
I can no longer just run where the trail leads...

Yes we hear the stories...
But we never think it could be us next...

Yes This Saturday, I will run for Sherry....
And For Sherry I sent my most run routes to my family..
My loved ones..
With a promise I will stay within a few blocks of them...
And Should I stray...
I will be accountable...
Because I understand...
No matter how free of a spirit I may be...
We live in a world where that freedom needs restrictions...
And support....

So this Saturday... print out the photo and run with me...
Run for Sherry...
Run for you...
Run for me...
Run for the freedom of being able to run...
With out fear...
With out the need for a plan...
With the freedom of exploring that un-conquered deer trail...
Most of all....
Run for someone who once loved to run...
And pray...
for you...
Pray for me...
Pray for Sherry...

http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/runner-communities/beginners/running-sherry