Friday, January 3, 2014

What Is It About Running ?

Really, Me: 

     The average non-runner person wonders, "WTH is that dude doing, running?"  You always hear, "Yea, I don't run unless someone is chasing me." Or, "I only run to the refrigerator, to get another beer."  I hear you, man!   I know I used to.  Then I thought, maybe it's fun?
     Everyone is a runner.  You may not realize that, but if you ever ran one step on the playground, to the mail box, or away from your older brother/sister then you are a runner.  Just because you haven't run since PE in high school, you don't get a "I'm not a runner" free pass.  That shit won't fly around here.  You are a runner, even if you don't actively run everyday or even once a month. The transition is not one of non-runner to runner. Think of it as changing your runner status from inactive to active!  Put yourself on the start list. 

Getting Started:

     Too easy.  Run!  Literally it's that easy.   Next time you go to the grocery store, park in the back of the parking lot.  When you're done shopping, run with that buggy to your car.  Maybe you just left the movies and it's cold out there, run to your car.  See, now you just updated your status to runner. 
     Don't get caught up in the bullshit excuses like, "Yea I wanta start running, but I gotta get some shoes."  Or the classic line, "I don't have time because (fill in the blank)."  You always got time to watch some TV right?  Or maybe to drink beer with ole Joe down the street.  When you are starting a new activity, there are always 500 questions you have about it.  Don't sit around and think about those questions, get on out there and jog around your block.  You can ask those questions then.  Everybody has some old shorts or shoes they mow the grass in. Put them ole green shoes on. And take 'em for a spin.

Why:

     Always the inevitable question, Why?  How come every one is focused on the why question and not the Why not? Yea, you read that right.  Why not?  Ask anyone, maybe your grannie who is old and is stuck in a wheelchair about what it means to lose your mobility.  Mobility is a gift. Embrace that gift.
     Maybe you have some young kids, running circles around you.  Maybe you've put on some weight and are not happy with your body.  Maybe you are an alcoholic.  Maybe your a drug user.  Maybe, whatever.  Who gives a shit?  Running don't care.  You can go for a run, and running don't care if you hate it.  Running don't care if you hate yourself.  Running is not judgmental.  It don't care about your problems, but it's an avenue to escape them, fix them, not fix them.  You get from running what you give.
     The best part is your fellow runner don't care to much about your self loathing for whatever you feel guilty about.  Are you running today or not?  That's what your fellow runner is typically concerned with.  You gonna run with me, or you going alone.  A shared activity that breaks down socioeconomic barriers.  It don't matter if your black, white, brown, fat, skinny, young, old, male, female or hermaphrodite.  Give it a shot.

Motivational Note:

The note from today comes from Bikram Choudhury.  Yea, that Bikram.  The dude that made hot yoga popular, but no damm eaisier:

"You're never too old, never too bad, never to late and never too sick to start from the scratch once again."

So go on out there and get started.  It's the hardest part, that getting started part!



1 comment:

  1. I used to run but haven't in more than a year. The walks yesterday and today are the first I've done since September 2011.

    Sometimes I meditate as I run. More often, I listen to audiobooks.

    Thanks for the inspiration, John. Keep up the good work.

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