So...if you are a runner, have you ever thought about running as a meditation? Wikipedia says (I paraphrased below) that meditation is:
Meditation is a practice whereby people train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to promote some benefit. It is generally an internal, personal practice, which individuals do by themselves. Meditation may involve invoking or cultivating a feeling or internal state, such as compassion, or attending to a specific focal point.
Trail running is the perfect focused meditation. One must attend to every step, feel and see the texture beneath your feet. One must be mindful of how, when and where you plant your feet. There is the rhythm of the constant up and down and sway of the arms and body. And then there is the rhythm of that comes from breath, the in-down-up-out can be hypnotizing and syncronize with each footfall. The feeling of the air around you, the sights. We take it all in, at least I hope you do. And if you do, and are in the moment you are engaging in a focused mediation.
I guess we run for all kinds of reasons. Roger Wright has some great ones. During his training for the Boston Marathon at age 47 he says "I learned a lot about myself, even more about life, and a little bit about running." Check out his inspirational video below and you will be glad that that did.
Let's face it, we don't run to get anywhere. Usually. We run for the act of running itself. And that my friends, is the perfect parallel for life. It is the journey, not the destination.
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