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.

New Featured eBibs

I'm on a low carb diet.  Whenever I feel low,  I eat carbs.
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Only runners will understand..  That nervous pee you get before a race even though you've already gone to the bathroom a million times...
You know you're a runner when...  you use the words 'only', 'merely' or  'just' in the same sentence as  the words 'run', 'miles' and 'hours'.
Running friend (n): One who listens, doesn't judge and somehow makes 2 hours or running fun!
I have blisters on both feet, I might  have a stress fracture on my left foot, and my legs are so sore it hurts to walk.. But I got a shiny medal saying  I finished the race... Which is nice!
*after one hour on the treadmill* Me: "What year is it?"
I know it's Monday..  But where are we running next  weekend?
I just ran 5 miles and what  a workout...I didn't think the donut truck will ever stop
I used to be able to drink all weekend. Now, a night of drinking requires more recovery time than my last marathon!
Effort level for this morning's run: somewhere between OMG and WTF
No matter how good you feel on your run... There will always be a woman pushing a stroller that's running faster than you!!
What won't kill you,  Will get you your next P.R.
When you think you have been  running for 4 hours and you look  down and it's been 17 minutes...
Remember when you could refer to  your knees as Right and Left? Instead of Good and Bad. Ahh, good times, eh?
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