Lead Like a Good Run

MY VIEW

During my daily old guy jog recently, a lady walking her dog said, “Have a good run!” as we crossed paths. Not being a runner, I continued to be puzzled by the definition of a good run.

My idea of a runner’s high is when it is raining too hard to bother lacing up the shoes. This year, during the 50th reunion of my high school class, my cross-country coach thanked me for going out so we could field a team.

My role was to finish before the trail markers were removed from the course and after allowing our team’s other four runners’ scores to count. Just finishing a run continues to be my goal. I knew my coach would agree, although I realize this is not a good attribute for a runner.

In my quest to solve the good run quandary, I reached out to colleagues who are serious runners — Bridget Weiss, superintendent in Juneau, Alaska, and Frank Davidson, a retired superintendent and faculty colleague at Northern Arizona University. Besides being runners, Weiss and Davidson share another distinction as past recipients of their respective states’ superintendent of the year honors (Weiss in Alaska this year, and Davidson in Arizona in 2006).

My colleagues shined light on what constitutes a good run by sharing insights on the connection between running and leading an organization.