Running as its own reward
Steven at the Athens Marathon
Now is a great time to get running. It’s easily accessible, needs minimal gear and you can get started from your front door.
Most days I run-commute to work. I sign up for the odd race and I train for and run a marathon each year. All of a sudden that’s all gone but with that there is a nice opportunity to reconnect with why I run.
Running as its own reward
Without a goal to train for, no groups to run with or destination to run to I’ve realised that running is back to a pure form, to be enjoyed for its own sake.
One thing some runners speak of is finding ‘flow’. For those who haven’t experienced it, it is a feeling, usually in the middle of a strong run, where you feel you can run forever. Normally it is the culmination of a lot of training and giving your full attention to a challenge which you meet.
I see many parallels to yoga and meditation - I’ve been taking George’s classes on Wednesday night - where we are encouraged to practice regularly but not for our ego or to test ourselves against others. Simply to deepen our understanding and enjoy the experience. With the absence of external goals and organised events this can be a great time to focus on the experience of running in the moment. Here are a few ways that have helped me.
Ways to engage
Try taking out your headphones. It’s tempting to dissociate when it’s hard and music can motivate but tuning in to what your body is feeling is a great way to get more out of your running. Rather than blocking out an urge to stop, maybe you need to slow down to keep going. I find running with no distractions builds resilience as I am more aware of the benefits I get from exercise. You can even try a body scan as you run, noticing how you feel at different stages of exercise.
Visualise how you will feel at your strongest on the run or at your favourite part of the route - along a river, through a park or wherever you enjoy being most. Use this when you are thinking ahead to the next run to stay motivated.
Explore your neighbourhood. If you’re running many times a week it’s great to mix it up and try new routes - improvise on your run. The idea being to stay off ‘auto-pilot’. Perhaps worry less about a specific distance than how much time you want to spend. I’ve been finding new routes around the Southside and at the moment it’s especially rewarding to find some quiet streets to relax into a nice pace without having to worry about keeping your distance and to feel more connected to where I’m running.
Oh, and make sure you stretch after. I find I’m less likely to get injured when I’m regularly practicing yoga and it’s another way to tune in to what your body is telling you.
Go, explore your neighbourhood and try to find some flow.
Written by Steven Rice. We are hosting a Pilates for Runners workshop on 23rd May. You will learn how to incorporate strength and mobility training into your routine to compliment your running. Book your spot here.