So I turn my head to the north,
Swallow that pill
That they call pride
The old me is dead and gone,
The new me will be alrightI’ve been travelin
On this road to long
Just trying to find
My way back home
The old me is dead and gone
Dead and gone
If you looked at the playlist below you might have noted, “Dead and Gone” by T.I. There’s something about the lyrics above that capture me. I thought it was only appropriate to have it blasting through my ears as I run the roads of downtown Columbus.
Several people have told me that crossing that finish line of a race like a half or full marathon is a big moment. It can go beyond completing the challenge. To many, it represents the final step of leaving something behind. I have stood at that finish line and watched people cross before and I am always fascinated by their “story”. Some are beating a diagnosis. Some are beating the odds. People leave behind a past that has haunted them, a loved one’s memory and a lifestyle they are officially changing. At the point that foot hits that line, it’s all dead and gone.
Tomorrow morning at 8:00 am, I will officially begin a 13.1 mile journey of leaving several things “dead and gone” on the streets of Columbus. The reality is that 6 months of training has provided me with the opportunity to sort out a lot of things that have been hanging around. It has been a time of renewal, and the chance to compartmentalize memories, mourning, regret, victory, disappointments, fear, frustration and celebration. Tomorrow, rain or shine, I will officially mark the end of each one. Each one will finally be dead and gone. Rascal Flatts said it best….
I’ve dealt with my ghosts
And I’ve faced all my demons
Finally content with a past I regret
I’ve found you find strength
In your moments of weakness
For once I’m at peace with myself
I’ve been burdened with blame
Trapped in the past for to long
I’m movin’ on.
