with regards to my left brain working one way while running and my right brain working another
Left Side of the Brain : OK, so we’re at such-and-such a pace right now, the next mile marker is X-hundred yards ahead, so if we get to that turn in so many minutes and seconds we’ll be doing a something minute split which should get us to the next marker after that in such time and we’ll be back home at whatever o’clock
Right Side of the Brain: What a pretty sunrise! Do I smell coffee? Ooh! I hear birds!!!
And the earworm/radio station in my head
But, it all kinda works together to form an all-around calmness, somehow? Like if you play a bunch of disparate chords at once, they complement each other? That’s a Rick Beato question, I guess?
When I’m NOT running, my mind wanders to places I go when I do
When I AM running, it just wanders along with me, and takes me ‘elsewhere’ - usually to stories or artwork I create later
There is something to a certain combination of 45-50* F, cloudy, damp, foggy days which really enhances the fragrance of dryer sheets as they exhaust from strangers’/neighbors’ homes on Laundry Day
I can definitely tell the difference between Bounce/Downy/Snuggle, but I don’t know which is which
Birds and animals. Nearly all runs are in the forest. A wallaby or an echidna or a soaring wedge tail eagle or a goanna scurrying up the nearest tree and I am smiling all run. Same out on my mountain bike or on the river in the kayak. On the water it is the pelicans that do it, although the occasional platypus sighting is the ultimate in joy.
I love this. A few simple things always lift my mood on a run.
Warm sunlight after a cold start, the exact song I needed popping up in my playlist, or seeing another runner give that silent little head nod that says “we’re both out here getting it done.”
And honestly, hitting that moment when my breathing finally settles and everything feels smooth for a few minutes always makes the whole run worth it.
That happened the other day while I was out as a very light snow began to fall - just had to get out there, even if it was nothing much to talk about
Funny thing is - as I’ve mentioned before - it’s rare for me to see another person running in my town. I’ve seen results posted, and we do have plenty of 5Ks in the towns nearby, so I know they’re out there, someplace, but I rarely see anyone else on the roads with me
I could say to myself “maybe they’re on the trails in the Pine Barrens?” but I think Trail Running would be every more WTF around here
Ended up doing yesterdays longish run in the mid day sun today after much procrastination this morning. Was feeling it a bit at the 15km mark and a guy beeped at me and handed me an ice cold bottle of water from his car blaring his Christmas salsa tunes and a big Feliz Navidad!!! Got me home on pace : )
My routes are either loops or lollipops, not strict out & backs with a dedicated turn-around, but I think I need to create/adapt some, just to incorporate this move (for the enjoyment of the observers, of course)
I have been doing this 4 day mountain running event since 1984. I had to miss 2022 as I had an IDC insitu while awaiting TURP surgery. Although my performances the last 3 years have been crap just doing it is very special to me.
I saw a thing last night that I think sort of fits here.
I wasn’t running: I was in a vehicle on the way to goalball practice, when I saw a fellow out on the multi-use path. He looked like he was not in his first youth, and was dressed in heavy boots, a giant hi-vis orange parka with a huge reflective cross, and what looked like Carhartt dungarees. He was running, and did not look comfortable at all…but he was running with his dog.
Now, I’ve been known to run quite a long way. Some people seem to think that’s admirable. But me? I’ve got more respect for that mile (maybe more, maybe less) that fellow ran just so his pup could stretch his legs out and feel the wind flapping his ears. I run for stupid selfish reasons - my own health and fitness and goals. What I saw last night was running as an act of love, and it made me happy to see it.
I hope that man and his dog have many years of joyful - if not altogether comfortable - runs together
won’t do