Running with freedom in mind
By Jessica Sharry
Sun contributor
As I write this piece, thunder rumbles in the distance. It sounds like it’s moving closer. Wind pushes through the window screens. I wonder if I’ll get to run this morning.
I love weekend mornings. I lace up my running shoes, unhurried, and head out the door and onto the streets of Empire. I often choose the same route because, for me, running is less about the destination or itinerary, and more about the experience, and benefits derived. I like morning runs the best, though some days I run in the evening after work. I always have running shoes and running-ready attire in my car.
Running has been my go-to health regimen since I was a teenager. I feel lucky to have been introduced to running by my mom, who started running in her mid-40s. There have been other forms of movement and exercise along the way, including dance and yoga which is still part of my daily routine—though the way I currently practice yoga doesn’t really qualify as exercise.
I’ve had some sedentary stints in my life too. However, the truth is I feel best with a regular routine of running. The physical and mental benefits of running are unmatched in terms of simplicity and effectiveness. For those without physical limitations, barriers of health conditions which make running an impossibility, the good vibes felt and the health benefits earned through running are available for all. For those who feel hindered by dislike of cold weather, rain, snow and ice fortunately there exists raingear, Smartwool and running shoes with spikes (I prefer Icebugs). In the summer months, a strap-on water bottle or Camel Back when it’s hot is essential. If you’re looking for a no-frills fitness routine that doesn’t require much in terms of gear, look no further than running.
Running yields a harvest of great variety. Fruits include cardiovascular health and endurance, stress reduction, better sleep, weight control and freedom from both mental and emotional overload that can creep into the minds and hearts of even the most well-adjusted and holistically healthy. The term holistic implies wholeness – all of something, or the whole person including physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects.
How is it that running can impart health in each of these areas? The physical benefits are obvious, but the emotional and mental impact is also evident. That we sometimes feel a certain sort of way, or “moody,” can be linked to neurochemicals and brain/nervous system functioning. Exercise is known to increase dopamine and boost endorphins, brain chemicals well-known for giving runners that runners’ high. Mentally, clarity of mind, experienced by anyone who decides to lace up a pair of running shoes and hit the streets or trails, is gained by time spent away from social media, email and all the other channels of information and communication that often keep us too connected. That is, if you choose to leave your phone behind.
With thirty to sixty minutes spent running, jogging, or walking, one can let the mind roam and experience a sense of inner freedom and independence. Running, particularly distance running, is inherently meditative. Thoughts arise and pass by like clouds. Problems, plans, questions, and answers about life’s daily and worldly nature present themselves while running. The psyche gets a workout too.
For anyone with or without a religion, running can feel deeply spiritual. We traverse the earth and commune with nature. We experience ourselves whole, independent and free, and simultaneously, connected to the world within and without. Running to the rhythm of one’s own heartbeat, and the movement of lifeforce flowing through our veins and pulsing through our nerves, we feel awakened and alive.
During the pandemic, I read the book Running with the Mind of Meditation: Lessons for Training Body and Mind by Tibetan Lama, Sakyong Mipham, a hardcore practicing Buddhist who is also a runner. The book helped me understand why running has always felt essential to my life – it provided vindication that my running is more than an obsession.
For those looking to improve health and take advantage of the myriad forest trails, road routes, and stretches of National Lakeshore that exist here in Northern Michigan, consider adopting a routine of running. My advice is start easy, 5-10 minutes at a time or two to three mailboxes a go (for those running a rural route). Give yourself some rest/recovery days to avoid injury and allow your body to adapt to the demand on muscles and joints.
As we celebrate high summer, and as we ponder the current state of our nation, consider celebrating with a run. Here in Empire, the storm has passed and it appears the clouds will soon part. It’s time to go running.
