As many of you know, today was New Year’s Day.

I decided to head to Lake Miramar and go for a run. I’m a somewhat accomplished runner having done three marathons, two half marathons, and a hand full of 10K’s. Compared to some runners, I’m just beginning.

This was not part of any New Year’s resolution on my part.

However, Lake Miramar was covered up with New Year’s resolutions.

I don’t listen to music when I run. I enjoy listening to my foot strikes and getting lost in my thoughts.

Today I could not get Ravel’s Bolero out of my head.

Bolero’s repetitive nature forced itself on me as once again I observed a mass of sedentary humanity oozing around the lake on New Year’s Day.

I saw new bikes and iPods and people who had bought enough running gear to traverse The Sahara.

Bolero continued to run through my head as a fitting sound track to this annual resurrection of Sisyphus. You know Sisyphus had to be in great shape after pushing that rock up that mountain for all eternity.

The Sisyphus I saw today was an imposter. He only rolls that rock up the mountain for the first six weeks of the year and then gets “busy” and sits back down on the couch.

I’m aware that this all sounds rather preachy and judgmental and insensitive.

I will say I saw a lot of smiles and heard lots of laughter and bits of excited conversations. I observed families riding bikes together and shouting for each other to speed up or slow down.

Perhaps that’s what disappointed me the most. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, each other, the sunshine and the setting.

Why is that disappointing? Because I know that come the first Saturday in March, only the regulars will be at the lake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCZChHdu2MQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfjjacYsWx8&feature=related