I’m four weeks away from my next running event – the Santa Barbara Half Marathon. I know my PR (Personal Record) for this distance, and I totally set up my training plan with the intent of setting a new PR. Of course, because that’s what we runners do. Apparently, according to the latest poll in Runners World Magazine, and new PR is goal for the majority of runners. If it’s not setting a new “best” time, then the next most common goal is to hit a certain time.
That was me too, for the most part, until recently. I was always so concerned with my time, my new record, my average mile time or my ever-growing distances (ones that would make people Ooooh and Aahhh at me). As Dan Clark says in his “Why I Run” blog post:
It’s not about distance.
It’s not about time.
It’s not about speed.
What? If it’s not about that stuff, then what? Well, according the Runner’s World stats, 17% want to finish their race feeling good, 15% just want to run the whole distance, and a whopping 11% are out to have fun.
For my last two long training runs I’ve tried out something a bit different. I strap my watch onto my wrist, and I hit the start button as I begin my run, but I don’t look at it again until the very end. Now that’s quite an achievement for me. I’m usually all about checking my watch- about 10 minutes into my run, again at the midway point, and a few more times as I approached the finish. All the while, I’d be running the numbers in my head, focusing on improving my times.
I learned a really great lesson while training for my last marathon. I discovered the joy of feeling of my body in motion. I grew to be less combative in my approach to running and working out and more Zen-like instead. I learned to just enjoy my surroundings and the ways they tantalized my senses.
Maybe the most important thing I learned is that our energy levels vary from day to day. To pick out some arbitrary goal or time doesn’t take into account the changing rhythms of life, nature or our bodies. Now, my goal isn’t all about meeting or beating a certain time, but being in touch with my body, my energy, my rhythm for that particular moment. Once I started learning to do that, running was more about relaxing and flowing, not fighting and conquering.
Guess what? My run times are fine, even improving. Who knew?! I’m having more fun on my runs, enjoying every step more, and really savoring every moment. My runs are celebrations of life, my fitness, and my world. I can accept where I am on a given day and be right there. Some days that means I feel light and easy, other days I may feel slow and heavy. When I take away the finishing time demands and just go with whatever my energy and rhythm are for the day, my run is more enjoyable, I don’t injure myself, and I’m more at peace.
Try it out, all you runners. Don’t look at your watch on your next run. Or don’t even wear a watch. Just run and listen . . . to your body, to the “music at the moment,” as Jason Mraz says. You’ll be amazed at all the sounds, smells, sights, and peace you may just find. You may even find yourelf running for fun at your next big race.
Follow ME!