Running with mindfulness

I’ve always been a sociable runner. I began running with a friend, joined a running club within six months, and would do whatever I could to avoid running on my own.

Solo runs felt harder, hurt more, seemed to last twice as long. If I had to go it alone, I’d distract myself with a Walkman/mp3 player/ipod.

I realised how much had changed when I trained for the Edinburgh Marathon earlier this year. Twenty mile runs with just me, my water bottle and my Garmin. Unthinkable. And yet, it felt good.

Learning to run mindfully has altered my relationship with running. Instead of tuning into N.E.R.D and tuning out of my run, my brain and my body are constantly chatting back and forth – checking for what feels right and what doesn’t, adjusting, noticing tension, relaxing.

I no longer classify runs as ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Every run is one I can learn from. Minutes and miles fade into the background. It’s just me and my running.

T’ai chi is sometimes called a ‘moving meditation’ because focusing on the movement quiets the mind and brings a sense of peace and stillness. Running with mindfulness leaves my mind as refreshed and energised as my body.

Photo Credit: Thomas Hawk via Compfight cc