I ran today, for the first time since BSLT 70.3. Hey, its called an offseason. I ran a little under 3 miles. Big whoop, you say. Yeah, I know; but, I did run it at 9600 feet above sea level. Maybe it was the altitude, maybe it was the scenery, but I had all sorts of thoughts that were a revelation to me.
1. If you run the trails looking at your feet, you'll keep your footing, but miss the mountains and starve your soul. If you run the trails looking at the mountains, your soul will be satisfied . . . until you fall on your ass. Find balance. Know the foundation under your feet as well as the cathedral over your head.
2. You can numb some of the discomfort of running with an i-pod, but if you do, you'll miss the sound of the Blue River falling over rocks. Funny, you also won't be able to smell the wildflowers, spruce and pine floating in the breeze. Falling water and wildflowers are not mere background; they are food for the spirit.
3. Don't judge your run going uphill. Don't judge your run flying down with gravity. Mountaintops and valleys are both deceptive. The true quality of your efforts is average of the daily grind. 80% of that is just showing up.
4. People see you when you swim, bike or run. Some say, "I could never do that." Others, "I wish I could do that." Some of those will eventually say, "why not? I can do that." You never know who you're inspiring--if you show up.
5. 80% of inspring someone else is showing up.
6. Kids swim. Kids bike. Kids run. They do it for fun. Be a kid.
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11 comments:
well said. i use my iPod too much. thanks for the thoughts....
another great post.
clearly, 9600 feet agrees with you
Awesome post.
I've gotten some of my best spiritual time, lately, out there with nothing but time and my own head. :)
wow. You must have run for a long time to get all that.
Yes, come over this way and we should go for a run together!
Ah now those are words to live by.
Colorado has made your posts more interesting and inspiring than ever! Can't wait to hit Crested Butte on Labor Day Weekend for a little trail running and riding!!
...which is exactly why all my runs are becoming trail runs. I've ditched the evening road runs with the MP3 angst music for the 5:15am trail runs. If I liked mountain biking I'd probably need to switch to xterra events.
Houston, we have a problem. Sounds like it could be difficult to return to the heat, humidity, and SLP status.
Good point about that iPod. It seems like foreverr ago that I wrote about my wine country run where I realized I could hear the birds just under the sound of my book so I took the ipod off and listened to the birds and the wind in my ears. Ahhhhh.... I also managed to miss stepping on a snake!
Love the wrap up - be a kid, indeed.
Here's a tip for all of us that get a chance to run and bike through some of the world's most senic routes: stop for a minute. Just flat out stop. Turn off the music and let the dust settle. Listen to the wind, the water, and the land. Breathe in the vista, hear the light, and see the aromas. It puts a new perspective on where you are and what you're doing. What was just a moment before a workout becomes so, so much more. Afterwards, when I start moving, again and I'm no longer running through nature but I'm running WITH nature.
Maaaan, I love this sport!
Stay tuned...
Great stuff Greyhound!
Excellent points! I will remember these during Steelhead. :)
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