16 Trial Lawyer • Spring 2022 ning community who entered the race that year. I ran the Boston Marathon again in 2014. Because I was stopped roughly a mile from the finish line in 2013, I was given the opportunity to run again without having to qualify. Once I completed the Boston Marathon, I decided I had had enough of marathons. Running had started to feel like a second job. I wanted to return to running for fun or to accomplish smaller goals that required less of a time commitment. Explore and enjoy Santha and I are now back to where we started — running because it makes us feel great but with no particular goal in mind. During the COVID shutdown, we were particularly grateful to have a workout we could do together without masks. We made an effort to run in new locations, using our runs as a way to explore and enjoy the prized freedom that was only possible outdoors. One Saturday, we even went as far afield as Ramona Falls in the Mount Hood Wilderness. After a recent snowfall, we ran on the path along the Columbia Slough, following the one set of human tracks and one set of dog tracks that preceded ours. We encountered both a bald eagle and a great blue heron. It was physically challenging, rejuvenating and restorative all at the same time. Runs like that one are why I’m more enthralled with running than ever. I feel grateful I overcame my early distaste for running, not only because of the unforeseen experiences it unlocked for me but also because it has provided me with a critical counterbalance to the stresses associated with a career as a trial lawyer and the challenges of juggling family and work commitments. Running has contributed to my sense of selfconfidence. It has made me more resilient. It has provided me a healthy outlet Running Continued from p 15
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