Enter into one of the guest rooms in my home and you will find located above the bed, written in black vinyl on a background of my favorite shade of blue, the quote, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” Taking for granted the words that are present on the wall and viewed so often, it was only recently when Karol read the words aloud that my Reticular Activating System was engaged and I was reminded to compose this blog post, Racing to Roam.

Wanderlust, adventure, pilgrimage, journey, whatever term rolls off the tongue best, my soul is restored during travel, at least when there aren’t airport delays, traffic, or bad weather! The majestic mountains of Montana and Southern Alberta are certainly my favorites, as I am unmistakably reminded of the Master Craftsman and His wondrous gifts of color and sound found in nature; however, the journey to complete a road race in all 50 states has led me to delightful towns well off the tourist recommended routes. Whether it’s the route to Siren, Wisconsin for the Spark 5K, where we only viewed honkey tonks and bait stores or the sweet church community of  Williamsport, Maryland, for the Road to Zion 5K, a substitute for a cancelled Hershey race, the trek across this vast country has been filled with unexpected surprises.

Checking off states on this bucket list escapade has not only led to geographical adventures to unknown towns, but to Spiritual Adventures and a ballooning confidence in traveling solo. From speaking through Kari Jobe’s “I Am Not Alone” lyrics on an unpaved road through cowboy country in Southern Alberta to moments of reflection on planes, trains, and in automobiles, our sovereign Creator has tapped this desire to roam as a pathway to connect with Him and with others. Without His intervention, there would have been no Memphis Flights and Pole Vaulters experiences, nor would I have collected memories with people I love or won my age division for walking in the Flying Frog 5K!

In the quest to complete all states so that my fiftieth state (Alaska) will be completed in 2021 (the year I turn 50 years of age), there have been a few detours, but none as significant as all the races cancelled or postponed due to COVID. Completing virtual races for Nevada, Utah, and Idaho this summer while visiting those states, I did discover that although I knew that I had a preference for the smaller, community races for church fundraisers over the large, popular races, I was unaware how much I would miss the fun and excitement of race day. Although the distance completed is the same, there was an absence of bananas, t-shirts, and people who just enjoy being active!  

So, as I Race to Roam searching for races in New Mexico and Alaska, I am excited to see what adventures are yet to be experienced and the interesting people who will appear in my life, because I know without a doubt that amazing adventures await all of us if we are willing to read more than one page!