Well the end of my week has been really bust, but the begging started out slow. I am not sure why I haven’t gotten around to writing, but I haven’t until now. I have done three 8+ mile runs this week, all of which I experienced little to no spells. Now today I over did it. I didn’t run a lick but copied and pasted a bunch of stuff for a large job. My brain feels like mush and I am looking forward to bed. I have a run planned tomorrow morning, first one with my running partner in weeks. My mileage plan is to keep things around 30. I only have five to go which should work out well for tomorrow and then a rest day on Sunday. This will work out perfectly as it is supposed to be 90 on Sunday.
So I have been thinking a lot about something Red said in her comment :I never knew running could be so complicated.” Running is actually very simple. But I think those of us who do distance (and my 8+ miles can barely even be called “distance” comparatively) get really bored when we are running. Making running complicated gives us something to do. The trick is to keep your natural gate while making things complicated. I have found myself over thinking a technique and forcing my body to do whatever it is, not a good thing.
In addition to trying to make things interesting, I also find running to be very meditative. I just finished a book on Buddhism and the practice of zazen or meditation. The idea of zazen is to release your mind of all thought by quietly sitting still facing a wall. While one obviously can’t do that running, I often find myself flushing my mind of all thought including my Ipod. I find myself loosing my thoughts in my environment, quietly watching for uplifted sidewalks and oncoming cars. It is at these times that I focus on my breathing and gate and also visualizing cotton between my joints and loosening my muscles. Many of these ideas are from Chi Running, but I also incorporate the yoga and meditation I have done throughout my life. I empty my mind (except for the part watching for dangers!) and just float along, many times feeling and experiencing the parts of my body that hurt. Many times I find the time just flying by. Keeps the boredom down.
By the way I wanted to write down my favorite running cds:
Stop Making Sense by the Talking Heads and the soundtrack to Run Lola Run. RLR has a gerat song that has hard breathing in the background that always pushes my step. SMS has a beat that is right in time with my breathing and step. I love it.
Glad you are still with us.
I have recently bene interested in Buddhism, but have not gottne off my backside to read the book that is collecting dust on my bookshelf.
And I like you, also find my bike rides calming and yet stimutaling all at the same time. I guess you have to be a perosn with a physical activity to understand what we are talking about.
I actually feel a twinge of guilt when I do not ride, but I don’t ride if I am not feeling well. It is not my MS, but my disk injuries that keep me from riding. Hopefully that too will pass after my surgery.
Keep up the good work!
If I were you II would never feel guilty about not exercising, just start again today. I say that, but I know how hard it is to not feel a bit of guilt. Back injuries are the worst too, they (like the neck) seem to feel whatever you do and make you regret it. Ouch!