The Runner’S Book of Haiku

By Steve K. Bertrand

This year marks the fiftieth year of my involvement in the sport of long-distance running. Looking back, I guess it started with a present under the Christmas tree in 1967. I was twelve years old. And inside a brightly wrapped box with ribbon and bow was a pair of Onitsuka Tiger training shoes. My parents found them on sale at the local weed and feed store, which just happened to carry shoes, for twelve dollars. They were white with blue and red piping. At the time, they were the fanciest pair of sneakers Id ever seen. I slipped them on my feet and found the shoes to my liking. Somewhere between presents and turkey dinner, I got the notion in my head to try the shoes out. I decided to run twelve times around our block, one loop for every year I was old. Thus began my running career. I never looked back.

Little did I know, at the time, that the sport of distance running would take me around the world as an athlete and a coach. At the time, I also didnt realize the personal journey I would undergo. It has become a journey of mind, body, and spirit. Like life, it has been a journey of setbacks and successes. And somewhere along the way, my passion for running and writing merged. The late Dr. George Sheehan, author of Running & Being, stated, There are times when I am not sure whether I am a runner who writes, or a writer who runs. Either way, writing has become my way of preserving and making sense of running experiences. Each daily journeywhether it be running the forests, mountains, beaches, farmlands, deserts, towns, or rural neighborhoodshas provided inspiration for my writing. Other passions in my life have come and gone, but the pure joy of my breath, heartbeat, and footfall intermingling with the landscape has remained. I am now, and will always be, a runner.

In their own way, this collection of over one thousand haiku tells a bit about myself, my life, and what I have come to know through the sport. There is something here for everyone passionate about long-distance running.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984520326

Steve K. Bertrand

For this pictorial history of Paine Field, Steve K. Bertrand has selected more than 200 images from the local community, historical societies, regional libraries, and state archives. He has traced the rich history of Paine Field from its earliest days to its present status as a bustling airport and commercial aviation center. These photographs provide a glimpse into the people and events that influenced this small community in the Pacific Northwest.

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Copyright © 2018 by Steve K. Bertrand.

ISBN: Softcover 978-1-9845-2033-3

eBook 978-1-9845-2032-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/17/2018

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For those who dare to fly inches above the ground

Newsman: Sir, why are you running?

1st Reporter: Why are you running?

2nd Reporter: Are you doing this for world peace?

3rd Reporter: Are you doing this for women’s rights?

Newsman: Or for the environment?

Reporter: Or for animals?

3rd Reporter: Or for nuclear arms?

2nd Reporter: Why are you doing this?

Forrest Gump: I just felt like running.

- From the movie Forrest Gump

Introduction

This year marks the fiftieth year of my involvement in the sport of long distance running. Looking back, I guess it started with a present under the Christmas tree in 1967. I was twelve years old.

And, inside a brightly wrapped box with ribbon and bow was a pair of Onitsuka Tiger training shoes. My parents had found them on sale at the local weed and feed store (which just happened to carry shoes) for twelve dollars. They were white with blue and red piping. At the time, they were the fanciest pair of sneakers I’d ever seen.

I slipped them on my feet and found the shoes to my liking. Somewhere between presents and turkey dinner, I got the notion in my head to try the shoes out. I decided to run twelve times around our block, one loop for every year I was old. Thus began my running career. I never looked back.

Little did I know at the time that the sport of distance running would take me around the world as an athlete and coach. At the time, I also didn’t realize the personal journey I would undergo. It has become a journey of mind, body and spirit. Like life, it has been a journey of setbacks and success.

And, somewhere along the way, my passion for running and writing merged. The late Dr. George Sheehan, author of Running & Being, stated, There are times when I am not sure whether I am a runner who writes, or a writer who runs. Either way, writing has become my way of preserving and making sense of running experiences.

Each daily journey, whether it be running the forests, mountains, beaches, farmlands, deserts, towns or rural neighborhoods, has provided inspiration for my writing. Other passions in my life have come and gone; but, the pure joy of my breath, heartbeat and footfall intermingling with the landscape has remained. I am now, and will always be – a runner.

In their own way, this collection of over 1,000 running haiku tell a bit about myself, my life, and what I have come to know through the sport. There is something here for everyone passionate about long distance running.

Steve K. Bertrand

"Sometimes we become so focused

on the finish line

that we fail to enjoy the journey."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Beginning my running career –

how far

that first mile!

Some days I still run

as effortlessly

as the hawk flies.

End of a long run –

keeping pace

with snail on the sidewalk…

Of all the things

I forget –

never my race splits!

Running the neighborhood,

I remind myself –

not all stress is bad!

Two days after the marathon –

still

hobbling around the house…

Midnight –

running the Sunday Times door-to-door

through the neighborhood…

Before I run, I sweep

my mind

of negative thoughts.

Those obstacles

I encounter when I run –

build character.

Following drum & flute,

I chase after

the Tarahumara…

We do not pick

the finish line; the finish line

picks us.

Running through

the old growth forest –

raccoon, owl & I…

After a