How Meditation Upped My Running Game
How Meditation Upped My Running Game

Last summer, without getting into messy specifics, I found my world turned upside down. Or, more accurately, I chose to turn my world upside down. Unfortunately, knowing I had done what would ultimately be best for me didn’t make transitioning into my new day-to-day any easier. Fortunately, my oh-so-wise sister had just found a new meditation app (called Calm) and strongly suggested I try it. Initially, I resisted. Then, after acknowledging I did indeed want to improve my life, I indulged her.

I’ve always known meditation offers a host of amazing benefits, but it’s never felt like a priority. Every time I decided to give it a go in the past, I’d do it for two or three days, and then stop. But something about this app made it easy to stick with, and I’ve been a devoted fan ever since.

Within days I felt a shift toward more positive thinking. Within a few weeks, I began noticing a renewed interest in creative projects I had given up years before. Life began to feel more exciting and joyful than it had in over a decade. And just when I thought the benefits couldn’t get any better, I caught a glimpse of what meditation could do for my mental game. One hour into a 10-hour road trip, with nothing but sagebrush and a straight stretch of road to look forward to, I actually felt eager to take on the monotonous challenge. There was always something on the horizon to move toward, and I felt calm knowing that if I just kept breathing and staying relaxed, getting there would be no big deal.

Then, wonder of wonders, I caught meditation similarly impacting my runs. Cold feet? Tired legs? Just about anything that didn’t signal an injury or serious problem was no longer a big deal. If I just kept breathing and moving, I’d ultimately get to where I was going. That’s not to say that all runs suddenly became easy, but the more challenging ones certainly felt more manageable.

Things got even cooler when I realized how meditation was affecting my stretching. (That’s right, stretching – every runner’s favorite pastime.) On a day when my muscles felt about as pliable as cement, I stayed with a stretch instead of coming out of it. Realizing that wasn’t normal for me, I questioned why, on this day, things were different. That’s when I realized that under the random thoughts in my head, there was an inner dialogue running that kept repeating, “Just relax and breathe – the muscles will release…” And weirdly, they did.

As someone who isn’t terribly new-age-y, it was an odd moment; however, it was also the most in tune I’ve ever felt with my body. Not a bad return on investment for 15 minutes a day of quiet time…

 
 
Seen a lot of slim chicks posting their

workouts on here so I thought I'd join 

the fun
Warning : I will bully every one of you

into daily stretches, plyo drills, crazy 

intervals, lifting heavy weights and 

epic long runs
104 °F.....  As my Grandma says, 

"Marathon training ain't for p*ssies."



Crazy old lady is right.

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She's a 10 but somebody made her  feel like a 0
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She's a 10.....but a 6 in Nike, and a 14 in Lululemon. why can't she find shorts?!? she's crying
"If you aren't happy with your race  times, try running a little bit faster"  – Eliud Kipchoge
BOSS: "Hey, can you hop on Zoom  real quick?"  ME:
Does anyone actually know what  you're supposed to do when people  are yelling "You're almost there" at  mile 5 in a marathon?
POLYRUNOROUS A runner, usually amateur, who openly  and consensually runs with multiple local running clubs or groups
Teach your children the joy of running  and they'll never have enough money  to buy drugs
The hardest part of training for a new  race is pretending that I'm still in shape the first 30-45 days
RAA (Runners Anonymous Association)  "Hi, my name is Alan and I've been  running for 8 months."  "Hello Alan."
TALENTS:  1. Eating  2. Running  3. Talking about running  4. Buying running gear  5. Signing up for races  6. Ignoring injuries
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I hate when runners who are really fast come to group runs and start pushing  the pace. Go run in the olympics b*tch  we trying to have fun
Sometimes you just have to down a gel, turn up the gangster rap and f*ck  yourself up for a few hours.   It's called self care.
I couldn't be a pastor. I'd be up there  like "YOU MFS don't respect God."
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