before sunrise

I ran for years, every morning, before sunrise. So many hundreds, no thousands... (as unbelievable as that might seem), runs, that most of the sunrises have slipped from my memory. Many of the dark mornings, long before sunrise, somehow remain. Things happen between 4am and 5:30am that most of the world misses. As my wife would say- most of the world is glad to miss -but whether it was a long run alone or out with friends, surfing by the light of HB pier or just trying to find my way in the dark on my bike, kayak or our old boat... there's something cool about being out there before the world wakes up... being the first one to meet the day.

Then, there are the sad things you happen across.

A few years back, making the 9 mile run from home to church- I was pushing it pretty hard and feeling pretty fit about 7 miles out. A late summer morning, sun still at least an hour off, I saw a pick up truck stopped in the middle of what's normally a very busy road. Two men were talking and all I heard them say was: "Did you see that albacore?"

I love to fish for albacore. The prospect of albacore running on Arlington Ave., 60 miles from the nearest beach... not to mention another 60 miles from any normal current they might feed in, caught my attention. Not even Charlie Tuna hangs out in Riverside. Slowing my pace, I crossed the street and cautiously approahed the huddled men at the tailgate of the truck. There, crumpled on the ground, was the lifeless form of a man who had been hit at least twice. Once by the original vehicle and then by the man in the pickup.

Distraught, he'd stopped, and when the man driving behind him pulled up he'd run to him and asked: "Did you see another car?" Running, in my own world, I heard the call of the sea: "Did you see that albacore?"

I doubt the victim- already dead or dieing -heard a thing. We were not the best rescue crew in the world. One went to call for help. The man who hit him, struggled to put the pieces of his dark morning together. I did what I've done at so many accident scenes with too many people dead or dieing: quietly, in my running gear, I knelt on the asphalt and prayed... knowing that God hears, God sees, God knows... we can trust Him.

Help came- I gave my statement -then finished my run.

I've allowed some of my fitness to slip away and that early 9 mile run is still a couple of months off. But now days I run with my cell phone strapped to my shoulder. If I see something that touches me- I stop and use it to take a picture. If someone needs me- my phone rings and I walk while we talk. And if someone's ever crumpled in a heap on the road again- I'll dial 911.

I'm connected... 24/7.

Somedays I'll pass the spot on the road where we stood over a seemingly lifeless form and wonder if he survived. Other days, driving by the spot, I smile- thinking back on the brief run of albacore on Arlington Ave.

Before sunrise... so many things happen... they're waiting for you.