Meditative Running
Running is a highly mental sport. Yes, in the sense of a bit of insanity, but primarily in the reality that regardless of your goal, you are battling your mind throughout.
I find this space in a majority of my runs. Whether it’s the initial effort of mentally accepting, yes, I am going on a run now. Putting on your shoes, layering up for winter’s winds, and preparing for whichever route you take.
Does it always have to be like this? This battle between the known, the comfortable, and the non-exhaustive? No, I have seen the restorative nature of running and how it often puts me into a meditative state.
Meditation often starts with focusing on the breath, emphasizing an action that constantly occurs throughout our life, but now at this moment, you are focusing on it. You feel where your inhale fills your body, the soft flutter of your eyelids as you zone into inhaling and exhaling. The breath travels through our lungs, creating warmth as we exhale through our nostrils. You alternate into deep, heavy exhales from your mouth, feeling what no longer serves you leave your body. You breathe into the day's goodness surrounding you and exhale what can be left behind.
Running is meditative. Preparation, care, and detail sum up the practice. It is straightforward; it is the movement of our body with intention and detail.
We constantly are moving towards something in our day. When we wake up, we move towards our coffee. When we are hungry, we move towards sustenance. When we have a project to do, we move towards completing it. But where do we move to when our body needs care, attention, and progress?
Within all of us is a rich sense of self. Throughout life, we have to put on personas, masking the true nature of our personhood. Meditative running is an invitation to return to that. It’s an opportunity to put yourself first in your day and to listen to your mind, body, and spirit.
What does your mind tell you as you move? When you are tired, excited when the movement feels good, when you see something beautiful on your run.
What does your body tell you as you move? When you feel a soft ache in your chest as the cold air comes in, what does your body do when you see the hill in the distance? How does it feel when the shuffling of your feet feels natural?
What does your spirit tell you as you move? Does it thank you for your time and attention on this progress and growth? Does it allow you to think more clearly about your surroundings and day? Does it prompt you for ways your can experience new growth?
Running is an invitation into the meditative space. A place where you can hear yourself, your breath, your feet, your thoughts, your fears, your excitement, your hopes, and your areas of progress.
Through running, I have become aware of parts of who I am. It has made me ask myself hard questions, to wonder what’s on the other side of fatigue and desire and how to feel proud of myself. Even if you come into running with extrinsic goals, soon, yourself meets you and asks you, “why are you doing this?” You can genuinely ask yourself at that moment, unlocking a part of you that wants to let the truth out.
