The Joy of Running
I've been an ON-OFF-ON-OFF runner for about 4-5yrs now, with the longest stretch of running lasting for about 4-5weeks before hibernating for 4-5months. However, since Aug'11 I started running regularly taking my instructions from this lovely article in Zen Habits blog. I then discovered that I have a colleague who is a marathon runner and a coach himself. November this year, he enrolled me to Runners High - an organization dedicated for running. The lovely coaches over there have put us through a very systematic training routine and come 14-Jan, I'd be running my first 10K (A great coincidence that its happening on my birthday), in preparation for my first race scheduled on 12-Feb in Auroville, Pondicherry.
The training and the encouragement received in the last 8-9 weeks has been tremendous, thanks to passionate coaches, seniors who have achieved so much and who take special care to motivate us, novices and fellow trainees who help one another to achieve the best. The idea of this blog though is to share some very very interesting things that goes on in the mind and some very fascinating life lessons I seem to be learning every time I run. Here are some, not necessarily in the order of any importance:
1. The race is always with you and only with you: When running all that matters is how YOU are doing, thats all. Friends can cheer, coaches can push, mentors can cajole - but no one can run the race for you. Isn't this same in life? Why then we constantly keep comparing? Why can't we just focus on becoming a better person in comparison to ourselves.
2. Journey is the reward, not the destination: Yes, there are some races going around and you might win a prize or two. But nothing gives pure joy running in trails away from the city. During the misty days of December running into thick fog is almost a magical or even I'd say a divine experience. In life though, we often forget the journey chasing something or the other all the time. When was the last time you saw a sunrise, a full moon, smelt a rose or got drenched in the rain?
3. Its about overcoming self imposed limitations: Perhaps the biggest lesson. On my first day of training, I asked my coach whether its possible for first timers like me to be able to run 10K in about 12weeks. He said the first training is only to remove the cobwebs in the mind which seem to say "you can't do, you can't do". I ran 8.5K last Sat and now looking forward for my first 10K this Sat. Unless you actually do, you'd never know what you are capable of.
4. Its about "keeping it simple": Before my formal training started, I was paralyzed by the fear of never being able to run more than 2-3kms. The training has taught me not to worry about the end point, but to focus on running the 1st km, then 2nd, then 3rd etc., For beginners there always is an option of abandoning the race midway. But all of us have always completed the race. Why then, in life we complicate things and not achieve our potential.
5. Being "smart" is more important that being fast: I've learnt that running is all about managing your energy. The tale of tortoise and hare is drilled in. Any impulsive action is doomed. I now understand the true meaning of "in the long run". I've learnt to intelligently manage uphill (we tend to walk in these sections to conserve energy) and make it up in the downhill runs. I now better understand the meaning of "uphill" and "downhill". In life we seem to take many decision that appears to make sense in the short-term, we can always step back and see whether or not we are smart "in the long run". The learning is also to manage or survive the "uphill" moments and thrive during the "downhill" moments. And remember, you are bound to get a "downhill" after an uphill.
6. What matters most is not what you are getting, but who you are becoming: With due apologies to James Allen, I'd like to say "as you run, so shall you become". You won't get much prizes, nor big monies by running. Yet to hear a running version of a Sachin Tendulkar. There are additional benefits of being fit, strong, improve endurance etc., But running is more about stretching one's potential, breaking self imposed limitations and about becoming better and better everyday. We ought to be asking all the time "what am I becoming".
7. Self-Discipline: Self-discipline is the process that ties together all your efforts of controlling your mind, your personal initiative, positive mental attitude and controlling your enthusiasm. Many experts believe that self-discipline is the biggest differentiator between successful people and also rans (pun unintended). Want to learn some self-discipline, start running today.
8. Its the preparation, stupid: The training we are receiving every week is systematically pushing us towards success. Preparation is just not about running alone, its about training the right muscles, drills both at the beginning and at the end, and also about the gears. I can't believe that I was struglling to run 2-3kms just a few weeks ago. Seniors keep reminding us that we may not be interested in "just 10K runs" very soon. I'm fairly confident of doing a 21K run sometime towards the end of 2012. I wonder why we don't give such importance to prepare for everything that life throws up - be on the professional side or on the personal front. We seem to believe that just by simply turning up things will somehow pan out in the way we want, if not, we seem to be fine with that. How nice the life would be if we can prepare for every test that comes our way.
9. Solitude: A few minutes after the run begins the distance between you and co-runners would invariably widen. You suddenly start seeing things which you were never able to see. Solitude brings that kind of a power. I had not got the kind of solitude I get while running even during intense meditations. You start seeing lot of possibilities that were hidden. Solitude rejuvenates mind and body. At the end of the run one sees everyone smiling, though they are tired. Never underestimate the importance of solitude and being in the moment. When was the last time you took a solitude break?
10. Its a marathon and not a sprint: No need to elaborate on this. Just remember that life too is a marathon.
If you are running, would love to hear from you some lessons you'd have surely learnt while running.
Thank you very much,
RamP!
ramp.ramp@gmail.com
"Go as far as you can see. When you get there you'd be able to see farther"
- Thomas Carlyle
I've been an ON-OFF-ON-OFF runner for about 4-5yrs now, with the longest stretch of running lasting for about 4-5weeks before hibernating for 4-5months. However, since Aug'11 I started running regularly taking my instructions from this lovely article in Zen Habits blog. I then discovered that I have a colleague who is a marathon runner and a coach himself. November this year, he enrolled me to Runners High - an organization dedicated for running. The lovely coaches over there have put us through a very systematic training routine and come 14-Jan, I'd be running my first 10K (A great coincidence that its happening on my birthday), in preparation for my first race scheduled on 12-Feb in Auroville, Pondicherry.
The training and the encouragement received in the last 8-9 weeks has been tremendous, thanks to passionate coaches, seniors who have achieved so much and who take special care to motivate us, novices and fellow trainees who help one another to achieve the best. The idea of this blog though is to share some very very interesting things that goes on in the mind and some very fascinating life lessons I seem to be learning every time I run. Here are some, not necessarily in the order of any importance:
1. The race is always with you and only with you: When running all that matters is how YOU are doing, thats all. Friends can cheer, coaches can push, mentors can cajole - but no one can run the race for you. Isn't this same in life? Why then we constantly keep comparing? Why can't we just focus on becoming a better person in comparison to ourselves.
2. Journey is the reward, not the destination: Yes, there are some races going around and you might win a prize or two. But nothing gives pure joy running in trails away from the city. During the misty days of December running into thick fog is almost a magical or even I'd say a divine experience. In life though, we often forget the journey chasing something or the other all the time. When was the last time you saw a sunrise, a full moon, smelt a rose or got drenched in the rain?
3. Its about overcoming self imposed limitations: Perhaps the biggest lesson. On my first day of training, I asked my coach whether its possible for first timers like me to be able to run 10K in about 12weeks. He said the first training is only to remove the cobwebs in the mind which seem to say "you can't do, you can't do". I ran 8.5K last Sat and now looking forward for my first 10K this Sat. Unless you actually do, you'd never know what you are capable of.
4. Its about "keeping it simple": Before my formal training started, I was paralyzed by the fear of never being able to run more than 2-3kms. The training has taught me not to worry about the end point, but to focus on running the 1st km, then 2nd, then 3rd etc., For beginners there always is an option of abandoning the race midway. But all of us have always completed the race. Why then, in life we complicate things and not achieve our potential.
5. Being "smart" is more important that being fast: I've learnt that running is all about managing your energy. The tale of tortoise and hare is drilled in. Any impulsive action is doomed. I now understand the true meaning of "in the long run". I've learnt to intelligently manage uphill (we tend to walk in these sections to conserve energy) and make it up in the downhill runs. I now better understand the meaning of "uphill" and "downhill". In life we seem to take many decision that appears to make sense in the short-term, we can always step back and see whether or not we are smart "in the long run". The learning is also to manage or survive the "uphill" moments and thrive during the "downhill" moments. And remember, you are bound to get a "downhill" after an uphill.
6. What matters most is not what you are getting, but who you are becoming: With due apologies to James Allen, I'd like to say "as you run, so shall you become". You won't get much prizes, nor big monies by running. Yet to hear a running version of a Sachin Tendulkar. There are additional benefits of being fit, strong, improve endurance etc., But running is more about stretching one's potential, breaking self imposed limitations and about becoming better and better everyday. We ought to be asking all the time "what am I becoming".
7. Self-Discipline: Self-discipline is the process that ties together all your efforts of controlling your mind, your personal initiative, positive mental attitude and controlling your enthusiasm. Many experts believe that self-discipline is the biggest differentiator between successful people and also rans (pun unintended). Want to learn some self-discipline, start running today.
8. Its the preparation, stupid: The training we are receiving every week is systematically pushing us towards success. Preparation is just not about running alone, its about training the right muscles, drills both at the beginning and at the end, and also about the gears. I can't believe that I was struglling to run 2-3kms just a few weeks ago. Seniors keep reminding us that we may not be interested in "just 10K runs" very soon. I'm fairly confident of doing a 21K run sometime towards the end of 2012. I wonder why we don't give such importance to prepare for everything that life throws up - be on the professional side or on the personal front. We seem to believe that just by simply turning up things will somehow pan out in the way we want, if not, we seem to be fine with that. How nice the life would be if we can prepare for every test that comes our way.
9. Solitude: A few minutes after the run begins the distance between you and co-runners would invariably widen. You suddenly start seeing things which you were never able to see. Solitude brings that kind of a power. I had not got the kind of solitude I get while running even during intense meditations. You start seeing lot of possibilities that were hidden. Solitude rejuvenates mind and body. At the end of the run one sees everyone smiling, though they are tired. Never underestimate the importance of solitude and being in the moment. When was the last time you took a solitude break?
10. Its a marathon and not a sprint: No need to elaborate on this. Just remember that life too is a marathon.
If you are running, would love to hear from you some lessons you'd have surely learnt while running.
Thank you very much,
RamP!
ramp.ramp@gmail.com
