It’s Not for the Physical Benefits
When I was in 4th or 5th grade (late 70’s), our class took a field trip to a local museum. I don’t remember anything about the museum except a diorama featuring native Americans. What I do remember, however, is this was the field trip that got me banned from further elementary school field trips.
The reason? Running around.
What about the countless times I got in trouble at a wedding, or my parent’s work picnic, or Church, or some endless banquet dinner?
The same. Running around.
Running is what I did as a kid, and you probably did as well because kids run around as much as possible. It’s what they do.
Whether you were a big kid, or small, or fast, or slow, or athletic, or not, a boy, or a girl, whether you lived in the city, suburbia, or the country — you ran around.
Just about all play that I can recall involved running, and not just sports and game-related play.
Play such as hot wheels (push the car down the track, run to retrieve it); board games (run to the basement to get the game, run back to get it set up); Legos (build the spaceship and then run around with it); building forts (run to get the materials, run back). All of it.
How many sets of stairs did you walk up as a kid? How about hills? None. You ran them all.
So why aren’t you still out there running around? Because you’ve lost the connection to your child self.
The Runner’s High and Connection To Your Child Self
I’ve read and heard talk of the runner’s high (endorphins? endocannabinoids? bullshit?). Some call it flow. Many say it shows up mid-run or towards the end after a particular time or distance. Some feel it almost right away.
The best description I’ve read comes from Rich Roll’s extraordinary memoir “Finding Ultra.” He describes a particular moment on his recovery and running journey in which he felt free.
“…time folded in on itself as I seemingly lost all conscious thought, the only sound that of my easy breath and legs pumping effortlessly beneath me. I recall later thinking, this must be what it means to meditate. I mean really meditate…”
Rich Roll, Finding Ultra
Wow, that is beautiful, but I’ve not experienced it that same way, and you may not either. I can’t recall one time where my legs were pumping effortlessly beneath me.
I have, however, experienced a profound joy, which for me, is that runner’s high. I believe that joy springs not only from the connection of my body to my mind but also, and more importantly, of my current self to my child self. It’s not about feeling or acting younger. I do NOT feel younger or like a child, and most times, something hurts, and I’m gasping. But I feel a connection to my younger self, and that connection brings me joy.
Are you ready to get started and feel this connection yourself?
How to Get Started — Stop Training for An Event and Start Training for Life
I won’t deny the usefulness of an event on the calendar to jumpstart a plan or keep you on track. But that’s not what we’re doing here. This isn’t an article about sport-specific or event training. This is an article about getting out and running around.
When you were a kid and saw a curb, what did you do? You ran along it to see how far you could get before falling off.
If you saw a hill, what did you do? You ran up it just because it was there.
How many sets of steps did you walk up as a kid? None. You ran every single one, even if that set of steps led up to your bedroom and the dreaded bedtime.
If you don’t believe me, watch your kids, or recall when they were young. They run too. Even in this age of 3-year olds glued to iPads. They run.
Step one in getting started is to stop thinking of running as exercise activity and start integrating it into your life routine.
Don’t worry about pace or distance or that infernal “smart” gadget on your wrist. Just get started.
When to Run?
Let’s use our child self as a guide.
Just like elementary school recess, I’ve found the best time for me to run is at lunch or mid-day. That’s not a knock on all of you crack-of-dawn pavement pounders. I’ve been that guy, and I won’t deny the amazing feeling for the rest of the day once those miles are in the bag.
But there’s just something about that mid-day anticipation and release that is unbeatable. It gives me something to look forward to and then provides tangible mental benefits for an afternoon of work.
And by the way, yes, you have time at lunch to run. Liberate yourself and realize that you control your time, regardless of what type of work you do. Spend your lunchtime on you.
How Much Should You Run?
For God’s sake, do NOT search the internet for some scientific answer to this question. Please do not. Because the internet doesn’t have any clue what this answer is for you. Nor do doctors, trainers, or coaches.
You’re not looking for an answer about optimal physical benefits, a training plan, or how much is too much (believe me, you won’t get there).
How much should you run? As much as you damn-well want and as often as you want. It’s that simple. A 15-second sprint up the hill out back or a 10-mile grind. See it, commit and do it.
Running When Everything Hurts
Everyone, all the time, is afraid of getting hurt or making something worse, especially as we age. Way too worried.
We worry about our knees, shins, hamstrings, and even our hearts.
That’s The World talking and trying to gain your attention. The World’s mission is to steal your attention, and it does so by playing into your fears, like getting hurt. For some reason, fear attracts our minds like an august picnic attracts yellowjackets.
As I mentioned, when I run, I rarely feel physically fantastic. In fact, most times, I feel like maybe this isn’t a good idea.
The discomfort is tangible. I’m 52 with proximal hamstring tendinopathy on my left side and patellar tendinitis in both knees. My legs hurt when I run — always. I’ve found methods to manage those issues that help, but they hurt, and that’s not going to change. Yet, I decide to do it anyway for the joy.
You will need to make the same trade-off. Do you want the joy, or do you want to be comfortable?
Get Out and Run Around
Run around the house or up the street and back. Run up the stairs in your house or go for a five-mile journey.
Run some, walk some.
In the woods, around the park, up the creek, in the snow, in the rain, or in the sunshine.
I feel like God has given us the ability to run, so we should.
Get out there and run around.
