Running For Running’s Sake

No wearables, no tracking apps, no distractions…just running

Look at the child in the picture above. Look at the joy on his face, the skip in his step, the light in his eyes as he stares ahead. He can barely contain his excitement. We’re glimpsing fun in its purest form.

What could create such delight? Such pleasure? Is it a new gadget? The latest video game? A chance to meet his favorite sports icon?

E, none of the above. It’s running. Simply, running.

In our technology-driven world, metrics are everything. Sports, media, big business, everything is about “analytics” and “engagements”. How data can be used to streamline operations and increase return on investment.

This has resulted in some incredible advancements in the fitness industry — we’ve got unfettered access to more personal activity and health data than we know what to do with. It’s never been easier to connect with people, at the drop of a hat, across vast distances. The gadgets we wear on our wrists have more computing power than the Apollo spacecraft that took the first astronauts to the moon. By orders of magnitude. I’m not kidding.

So what’s the problem?

This technology comes with hidden costs — in addition to the hundreds of hard-earned dollars we shell out — costs that people are seemingly happy to pay, or perhaps obligated to pay, without any thought of the consequences.

We become disconnected. Seems counterintuitive right? How can devices that facilitate connectivity actually serve to disconnect us? Think about the last time you were in a restaurant. At the gym. Walking in the park. What’s everyone doing? Staring blankly at their phones, oblivious to the outside world. Texting five people at the same time, leaving comments on Instagram posts, applying ridiculous filters to their photos, you name it. It’s an epidemic.

By focusing all our energy on our devices, we’re ignoring our friends across the table. Our family members at Thanksgiving. Our teachers in the classroom. We’re ignoring what’s going on in real life (or “IRL”, according to the internet) in favor of what’s happening in cyberspace. The amount of times I’ve watched someone cross a busy street staring at their phone, without looking both ways, will blow your mind.

We’re detached from the real world around us.

We become obsessed. Obsessed with metrics — with likes, followers, and engagements, with the latest “trends”, whether or not those trends serve to provide meaningful value. We care more about what the masses think — people we don’t know, people we don’t like, rather than what we ourselves think, or those closest to us think.

As obsession grows, so does dependency on the systems in place. We become increasingly reliant on these systems to provide the personal validation we’re looking for, to determine our self-worth. This is a zero-sum game, as eventually the system will fail you — you’ll say the wrong thing, like the wrong post, make the wrong comment. And then you’re done— cast out like a leper.

It’s over, in a snap.

No wonder anxiety and depression are climbing at such alarming rates.

We become self-absorbed. We’re more focused on the selfie than the group photo. We HAVE to upload our running data to our preferred tracking app (Strava is the big dog), otherwise how will anyone know we ran? Does it even count if no one knows? If we get new shoes, the world has to know. If we’re trying a new training protocol, the world has to know. If we get a new hat, the world has to know. We stop and take pictures of every scene, every trail head, every beach, to put our “serenity” on full display.

Instead of always trying to capture the moment, wouldn’t it make more sense to put the phone away and, I don’t know, actually BE in the moment?

Technology has the power to help in so many ways, but also to twist and pervert running’s authentic intention, what it’s truly meant to be.

And it’s power is great.

So what’s the cure?

Look again at the child in the picture above. Really look. There’s no Apple Watch around his wrist. He isn’t wearing $250 designer running shoes, in fact, he’s wearing jeans. He isn’t futzing with his phone trying to change his playlist or see how he compares with his friends on Strava or snap a photo. He’s just running. For the pure and simple joy of running.

It’s time to disavow your disconnection, and I’ve got the prescription.

On your next run, I’d like you to turn off your FitBit (or Apple Watch, or Garmin, or Suunto, etc.). Take off your headphones. Ignore your phone*. Leave Strava alone this one time.

And instead:

Turn on your inquisitive mind. It’s just you, yourself and you out there. And who better to keep you company than you? Talk to yourself. Get to know you a little bit better. What makes you tick? What are you passionate about? What are your goals? What do you want to do next, and how will you get there?

Consider a current problem or issue you’re facing. Sort out the pros and cons of various solutions. Weigh your options. Logic and rationality come easily as your heart pumps blood through your brain at 150 bpm. Then make a decision. Commit to following through on that decision.

Reflect on how lucky you are to have a sound body and mind, allowing you to be in this very moment, here and now, doing what you love. Think about other areas in your life in which you’re lucky. Give thanks.

Focus on your connection to the earth. Sense the undulating terrain underfoot as you move. The pavement, the dirt, the gravel, the grass, the sand. Notice the differences in feel and pace. Acknowledge that with every footfall, your body becomes more grounded, more in touch with its true environment.

Running in snow conveys an additional stratum of experience to running, especially along the trails, paths and beaches. Take advantage of this during the winter months. The soft crunch of the snow underneath and reduced impact on your legs will channel feelings of floating as you glide across the ground. Don’t forget your hat, gloves and neck warmer.

Take stock of your surroundings. Hear the sounds of the road, the forest, the trail, wherever you choose to run. Hear the birds chirping through the trees. The rumble of the cars on the road. The subtle splash of the waves during an early morning lakefront run. In winter, note how quiet it is while the snow falls. It’s almost too quiet at first, but disquiet is quickly replaced by clarity and lucidity.

See the sunlight as it streams through the foliage. Let it warm your face as pockets of the trail open up to the heavens. See the path ahead, the winding turns, the sharp corners, the differences in terrain.

Feel your body. Start with your legs. How do they feel? Any tiredness or fatigue? Nagging twitches? New tingles? Then move to your core — make sure it’s actively engaged at all times, locked in position to stabilize your pelvis, lower back and spine. How about your arms? Are they slack and free-flowing, or stiff and upright? We carry a lot of stress in our arms as we get tired, make sure they stay relaxed and loose. Your shoulders might be hunched — slowly lower them down.

Address your body with each stride — the more conscious you are of the machine that drives you, the better off your machine will be. Same goes for your post-run cool down: how do you feel? What needs to be stretched, worked out, or rolled? Understanding the feel of your body, what everything means, especially as we age, is paramount for longevity in this game.

*Ignore your phone, but do not leave it at home. Keeping your phone with you is an essential safety precaution. Whether you hold it in your hand or put it in your waistband, it’s important to have it handy in case of emergency.

Technology has its place in today’s society, there’s no denying that. It makes our lives easier, safer and more exciting with each passing day, even with running. I admit I have a FitBit to help keep me on track.

But sometimes, it’s healthy to let go, if only for a moment. Power it down. Go old school. Run for running’s sake, nothing more, nothing less.

Embrace running as it was meant to be — free from technological obsession, distraction, and interference. Eliminate self-doubt, uncertainty, and feelings of inadequacy. Cast out devils like anxiety, depression and worry.

Running is a gateway — a portal to a higher plane, a greater state of being. Only when we are truly present inside our run and inside ourselves can we unlock this portal. And as you walk through it, you’ll experience freedom like you’ve never experienced before.

Once you do, I’m willing to bet you’ll find yourself smiling like the child in the picture above.

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