To Run or Not to Run

A couple of nights ago, we were talking about conscience over dinner table. How to be true to your conscience, and how you can get there.

At my next morning run, after the initial banter going on in my mind - my thoughts were diverted to that topic. I realized a few things about running and me.

I run so I can be a better person for myself, and for people around me. My husband literally tells me "You need to go for a run", and I know exactly what he means.. and just a 2 mile run will change me into a completely different person.

After I run, I am more in tune with my inner self, I can listen to the inner voices that tell me what to do. I get closer to my instincts. It makes me a more powerful person.

The place I live - Boulder, CO boasts of numerous trails - but it seems like I always run on the one that is closest to me. It is exactly about 1-1.5 mile warmup before I hit the trail, and then it is almost like my legs know what to do - which turn to take, when the tunnel arrives, what to look for, where the hills start - they dictate my stride. I need no music, no watch, no monitors, just me, and my run. This is the same person who used to time every mile, run at a particular heart-rate, and look a zillion times at my heart-rate monitor.

Now, I enter a zone with my run where thoughts flow to me, I question myself, and I get answers. On my way home from my run, I run through a neighborhood - more of a cool down run, but I always cross the street at the same point - like it was pre-programmed. I am amazed how my feet just do the talking!

I have run on this trail for the last 4-5 years, and it has never got boring to me. Every season, every day I see new things along this trail. When I run in the morning, I am happy to greet fellow runners "morning" or just wave. Sometimes after a snowfall or rain, the trail has some adventures in store - a lot of hop, skip, jumps to avoid the little puddles. All in all, the trail is the place that transforms me.

For some reason, I need the movement to bring about a feeling of stillness inside me. The strides to bring a sense of inner calm.

So, when in doubt, I just go for a run - cause I know I will be a different person at the end.