Lost – The Zen of Running

Somewhere along the road I’ve lost my Zen of running. It was my sanctuary. A motion, a place, a time all my own. Now it feels like a chore. And I mean chore! I’m breathing heavy, my heart rate is up – I just want to stop running and walk!
This greatly saddens me as running was something simple – that I enjoyed.
It’s right up there in my top 3 things life has to offer.

Why the change?

Something wrong with the mechanics? I’ve been waking up with uneasiness that something is physically wrong with me. (The hypochondriac syndrome.). I do have an appt for a full physical soon.
Another life passage? As Gail Sheehy in Passages so honestly said;

” All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter into another!"

Classic case of burnout? Many days I had to force myself to do the long runs while training for the Half…

Whatever is going on; let’s pray I get over it fast. I miss my relationship with running.

I see John “the penguin” Bingham is working on a plan to get out of a slump – I hope it works for him. Finding the Rhythm

Some mindful suggestions I’ve been considering: [Thanks Donna Cardillo]

• Set intention.
• Ground yourself.
• Create good karma.
• Affirm your path.
• Aspire to new heights.
• Be mindful in everything you do.
• Tap into your life force.

Do you have any ideas? I would appreciate your feedback.
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Runners Count

I have an abacus at the bottom of my stairs. When we first moved into this house (a two story), I wanted to know just how many times a day I went up and down the stairs.
It’s made of wood with two rows of brightly color rings. Just a child’s toy – but it provides accurate data. I love its simplicity.
When running I use a sort of mental abacus system. I count off segments of my run. These can be miles, city blocks or even minutes. (I started using this method way before Garmin.) The process chronicles my run and gives me a sense of completeness.

“I'm pleased with my life, with the journey.” Tina Turner

A small sample of what other runners count:

1. Days till a race -> The countdown continues: Motivation for MCM, Eight Days Out
2. Weather data –> Alone With My Thoughts
3. Don’t forget feet -> Times My Foot Fell Asleep
4. How many marathons -> Let’s Do This, Huh?
5. Runners you pass in a race -> Lake Waramaug, April 27, 2003
6. How many calories -> Running Girl’s Blog
7. Words -> I Say Like Too Much
8. How many beers last night -> Sweet!I Can Do This!
9. The cadence BPM in music -> Review Cadence
10. Running Streaks – > Joggling Streak Day 330
11. Countdown to Disney -> Walt Disney World Marathon

What do you count? Include your links in the comments : )

"When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." Willie Nelson

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Running Toward Happiness

Reading about a crusade going on in Britain to promote better mental health. Their Scientists came up with these 5 simple Steps to Happiness.

1. Connect 2. Be active 3. Be curious
4. Learn 5. Give

As I glanced over them, I realized running can incorporate all these behaviors.
Connect
By entering races, joining running groups, or just wave to folks along your paths.
Be active
There is no need to explain this one to runners. Suffice to say – over training may lead to injury.
Be curious
When we run out doors we have a bevy of opportunities to explore. Look at every tree – give them a name. What are the street names? Why is there always just one shoe in the ditch?
Learn
This is one in my Mantras – “Never go a day without out learning something new.” I regularly read Runner's World, runner’s blogs, and running forums to keep up to date with the greatest training plethora. Learning is as easy as taking a run in new place. Just pay attention.
Give
It’s a great idea to volunteer at a local race event. (I still have this on my To Do List.) Try to share your knowledge about running. (Post your training routines in a Blog.) At work – I'm frequently asked about my running. How far or how fast did you run? I try to redirect the question back to them to see what they are doing to be active. Reinforce an active lifestyle but don’t brag.
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BTW: I noted this article, which I found in The Times (London) has over 145 comments! It must be a popular topic.
What things about running make you happy?
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A Sign or Just a Bookmarker

As I sit on this jet reading “life is a verb”, I notice the bookmark ->
I have a collection of bookmarks – actually a pile of them. So when I open yet another book, I slip one in – not really noticing it.
It is there to mark my place…
The day before I left, I busily read a number of my fav running blogs sites including Ted’s Running Journal.
He mentions he had met a couple of authors promoting their running books. He included a picture of him with Bart Yasso.
Strange coincidence or a sign?
It seems as we age we start paying less attention to the world. Perhaps there is just too much stuff to process.

Starting now – pay attention!

1. A bike tire mark in the mud. 2. A young man walking a golden lab. 3. The sound of a passenger train. 4. A path leading to nowhere. 5. How the sun melts the frost. 6. Direction of the wood grain on the boardwalk. 7. An out of place rock – how did it get there?
ALL THIS AND MORE IS WAITING TO BE SEEN.

"Every day is a journey." wrote Basho

My Life On The Run

I wrote this post before I got home. Home Sweet Home. The above image was taken along one of my favorite runs in Canada.

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