Yes, that is definitely how I feel about running. I've always felt that way. It's partly why I seldom do road races--I think I've done maybe 4 in my life, outside of running track in high school. For me, running is a spiritual, reflective practice. I like how you describe your use of a pedometer, so you can see "what X number of miles feels like." Chris describes me as "somatic," which I take to mean that, for me, the physical and the spiritual have always been tightly linked, even while also distinct. I can't separate them; I can't do one kind of practice without also doing the other. When I run, using gadgets or engaging in a competitive road race somehow cuts off the spiritual side of it, and I feel like I'm only engaging in it halfway. I have enjoyed running races in the past--particularly the marathon I ran in 2000--but it isn't *why* I run, and if I were to focus on that, or on the metrics of running (miles logged, etc.) it would take the joy out of it for me.
Thanks for responding to this post--I didn't realize that you felt similarly (though it also doesn't surprise me), and it is pretty rare that I encounter someone who does. It is sometimes hard to explain my way of running to my friends and family; I have a particularly hard time when I go running with someone who is all about the miles, speed, gadgets, racing, etc. For this reason, plus all of the above, I usually prefer to run alone.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-04-22 04:44 pm (UTC)Thanks for responding to this post--I didn't realize that you felt similarly (though it also doesn't surprise me), and it is pretty rare that I encounter someone who does. It is sometimes hard to explain my way of running to my friends and family; I have a particularly hard time when I go running with someone who is all about the miles, speed, gadgets, racing, etc. For this reason, plus all of the above, I usually prefer to run alone.