With teaching, parenting, and house hunting, by the end of the week, my stream of consciousness is like a pinball machine. Or a dog distracted by a "squirrel," as Jon and I often say.
The more I have on my plate, the harder it is to focus on one tab without pinging over to another, and another, and then opening up another... The harder it is to focus, the more tired I become. The more tired I am (physically and mentally), the harder it is to focus. You see where I'm going? I get tired just thinking about it.
Running strips away that excess. Breathless and goal in mind, it's physically impossible to have so many open tabs. If this NYT writeup on the effects of running on neurons isn't an advertisement for running, I can't imagine what would be. It describes a Princeton study that concluded running builds excitatory neurons, while also producing GABA inhibitory neurons. Essentially, runners experience physical changes making them more willing to explore, but can control and bring themselves back from stressful events. This reminds me of the importance of deep sleep in cleaning up your neuron synapses overnight so your thinking is more streamlined the next day.
Today I came home mentally frozen. I knew I should run but (arms crossed, sweat pants calling) just. didn't. want. to, even though I knew it would make me feel better. Jon gave me a gentle nudge to pull up my big girl pants and just-do-it-already, and though that bitter cold (I am being a bit dramatic) was tough to face in the driveway, as soon as I'd made it half a mile down the road, I felt everything slip away.
I'd forgotten what was so exhausting. I'd forgotten why I didn't want to run. I felt my legs loosen up, I settled into a pace, and I just ran.
I didn't think, I didn't complain, I didn't feel, I didn't want. I ran.
And you know what? It was so awesome, I ended up running an extra mile and couldn't believe my pace, which I haven't accomplished in a very long time. I needed that boost, particularly after a week with very tired, angry legs. Those kinds of surprises don't hurt ;)
I will say, that in a world with increasingly distracted drivers and threats of psychos, runner friendly roads and communities have become essential if running is going to be so meditative. On a route with sidewalks and other runners, you don't have to worry about the logistics of not getting hit by cars. You don't have to think.
You just run.
AND this is another reason I love marathon training. Ultimately, after a few unpleasant runs, you are rewarded with becoming physically fit enough to head out the door for a couple of hours, detach from reality, and simply enjoy the ride. Imagine as parents being offered either a 30 minute coffee date or a two hour dinner. Only the longer option actually offers the opportunity to unwind. Similarly, quick walks through the neighborhood are nice, but a 6 hour hike up a mountain provides a tangible break from reality.
A quick run gets the job done. But those long runs are exceedingly restorative.
(Look how beautiful that is! It's a Runner's World "Rave Run," which is one of my favorite things they publish monthly. I don't know where or who it is, but to me this captures just one flavor of many delicious runs.)
12 miles tomorrow. Next weekend is the last 20, and then it's taper time!! (And THEN what will I do?!?)
Happy running :)
