"Ask nothing from your running, and you will get more than you ever imagined."
-Christopher McDougall in Born to Run
Today was a very Born to Run kind of day.
Last weekend, I conquered the Olympic Triathlon that I had been training for all semester in Clermont, Florida. Because of all the rigorous training that I was doing leading up to the race, I had forgotten what it feels like to love to run. In fact, I hated it. The two track workouts I did before the race made me want to intentionally fall down a staircase so that I would not have to run anymore. Its a good thing there were no stairs nearby.
Today I went out for a run because I wanted to. Not because I felt like I needed to train or burn calories, but just because I felt like running. What a difference. If we ask something of our running, it will most likely result in an injury or a repulsion with the sport. The Raramuri tribes always ran because they loved to run. They expected nothing from it, and they were given everything in return. They were the fastest ultramarathoners in the world, and they had no injuries to slow them down.
I didn't even need a distraction from running today. So often we see people running with i-pod headphones in or watching a television while they are on the tredmill. Why do we need to distract ourselves from something we were born to do? The brain is such a bargain hunter. Our bodies were built to perform, and our minds were built for effeciency. Sometimes it helps to listen to your body, and simplify running to appreciate it more. While I was trotting along the beautiful sunlit path on my trail-run today, I heard the faintest trace of a bird chirp. When I turned to investigate the source of the noise, I saw a beautiful red robin. If my i-pod was in, I wouldn't have seen it. I connected with nature today because I asked nothing from my running. It required no distraction or any true physical strain. There's a certain beauty that comes from doing something you love just because you love doing it.
Today I was born to run.
I think this is so great! I want to run and use my body in the miraculous ways it was made to be used. God is amazing with His creation and I am glad you are so in tune with its beauty. Keep posting things, Meg, I'm enjoying the read.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad there weren't any stairs too.