Do you ever get asked why you run? For me, it’s a hard question to answer. There are a multitude of reasons why I run – some simple, some complicated. But one of the things I love most about running is the escape it provides.

When I’m out on a run, I can use that time to think about anything that’s bothering me, or I can think about nothing at all. I can have the busiest day, but when I get out there on the trails time ceases to matter, if only for those miles. I may have to rush off the second the run ends, but that little break is all I need. I’ve recently come up with a term for the time I spend running on trails: Western Time.

The term Western Time was inspired by this song with the same title. It has nothing to do with geography. To me, it’s more of a state of being. It’s a time when time doesn’t matter. The world has become such a busy place, and it’s important for all of us to find an activity which gives us that escape. A little Western Time is good for the soul.

Where do you find your ‘Western Time’?