no man's land

Today is November 11, Veteran’s Day here in America. Collectively, we pause for a moment (usually when we realize there is no mail service today) and remember the various veterans of wars our country has taken part in. Commonly, we consider the Vietnam War and the ongoing Iraq War – those safely within living memory.

But in other parts of the world, this is Armistice Day, the marking of the end of World War I. British wear red paper poppies on their chests for weeks before November 11, in remembrance of the 60 million European soldiers who fought in The Great War.

In one of my many running playlists, I have a special song that reminds me of kindness and brotherhood that sparked one night on the battlefields during Christmas, 1914. The song is All Together Now by a 1990s Liverpool band called The Farm.

The song itself is a historical account of a temporary, trenches-decision ceasefire between British and German soldiers fighting in Belgium. In the cold, miserable night, the Germans decorated a small tree to celebrate a nationally beloved holiday. The British eventually joined in and the two forces met in “no man’s land,” the flat border separating the two camps.

They laughed, joked, sang carols together and generally agreed to abandon their weapons for just one night in what I believe to be one of the most touching gestures of peace in modern history.

Here are some of the lyrics of All Together Now:

December 1914 cold, clear and bright
Countries' borders were right out of
sight
When they joined together and decided not to fight

All together now
All together now
All together now, in no man's
land

The boys had their say and they said no
Stop the slaughter
let's go home, let's go, let's go, let’s go, let’s go home.

OK, that last part always makes me sing out loud – partly because the song always seems to appear when I’m on a long run, homeward bound, and more than ready to finish, and partly because it’s catchy and fun to sing. Any family members who happen to be running with me laugh, or sing along.

I’d like to think that the no man’s land party was just one example of kindness shared and hatred forgotten that we absolutely need in order to have a nourishing, sustaining society. In no way can we add up all the moments of kindness during a war so that they will outnumber the moments of bloodshed and evil, but it’s nice to know that they existed, if even for just a fleeting moment.

Intellectually, I know that these soldiers finished their party, went back to their trenches, slept a bit, and the next day picked up their guns and continued to fight. It was probably a very difficult thing to do.

But being kind isn't nearly as difficult as we make it out to be. Maybe if we all hold stories like this in our hearts, it will remind us to reach out and extend the hand of friendship when times get hard. Or maybe even just when we feel the impulse.

I can hope, can’t I?


Here’s more information about the WWI Christmas Truce of 1914.

hybrids are very quiet when they creep up on you

There are a lot of strong feelings in the running community about iPods. Many certified courses don't allow runners to wear headphones, saying "runners should be alert and aware of their surroundings at all times."

Personally, I can run without music. But I really prefer to run with music. I even play a little game with myself and use my iPod as a reward for getting through the most difficult first couple miles of a run. I huff and pant and grimace, all the while reminding myself that when I get to two miles, or three, I can have my precious iPod.

I'm like a junkie waiting for her fix.

But music does make the second half of my run so much more enjoyable. Or maybe just getting through that tough first part --- where my body is fighting me for all its worth to stop, turn around and walk straight home, shut the door to my house and never come out again until I promise to cease such foolish abuse --- is reward enough.

By comparison, the rest is a piece of cake.

At any rate, I really do get giddy when the time comes to unfurl my green headphones from around my equally green nano, squint at the ever so tiny R or L to figure out which bud goes in which ear (does it really matter, anyway?) and get that click wheel moving.

Ahhhh. It's like a cool drink of water.

And that's what this blog is for me. A refreshing look at running, a recounting of the pains and the joys of every step. There's always something new. Hopefully, my words will be as reviving for you as they are for me. Join in. Tell me what you love (and hate) about running.

Writing with your feet is optional.