toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795 
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Post by toejam on Jul 10, 2017 4:31:15 GMT -8
It's definitely more than physical - your mind has to do something. If you think about the physical discomfort or negative things in your life, you won't run long. Getting very "woo woo" about it is probably just over-thinking.
Some interesting thoughts shared in the piece that people who run can relate to.
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Post by hikingtiger on Jul 10, 2017 8:28:54 GMT -8
Nice read. Thanks.
This is the week I'm getting back to regular running. Got to get moving again.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Jul 10, 2017 8:45:39 GMT -8
If running is spiritual, the riding a bike must be transcendental.
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davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
Posts: 1,710
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Post by davesenesac on Jul 10, 2017 13:17:04 GMT -8
Skimmed about the interviews and a common theme seemed to be the state of mind long distance runners flow into that allows contemplation while in what some have called a zen state, sometimes a runner's high. That is of course nothing new and is something cyclists, hikers, and backpackers share with running. In each, one may be engaged in the activity for longer periods than typical exercise or gym sessions.
Especially when one is solo, the mind may wander thinking about all manner of things. In a sense it is similar to long distance vehicle driving of several hours where one's body automatically takes over all driving actions while the mind is too bored to focus on such for more than short periods so goes off on all manner of thinking. The difference between that and activities as running is the body becomes more detached due to physical exertion so possibly can reach deeper levels of as the link suggests meditative or spiritual states. Well at least most of the time. My own mind maybe too often has 3 things going on at the same time, one, an automatic awareness and body motor functioning of carrying a heavy backpacking load along a trail, two, thinking about some thing like my August trip to Oregon for the solar eclipse, and three, some inane pop song tune I can't stand that was playing in a convenience store I stopped at earlier that morning and is compulsively torturing me as though some gremlin is inside my head having fun.
David
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Post by atvtuner on Jul 10, 2017 13:39:17 GMT -8
I practice Walking Meditation. Can't find a decent link. Ran across the concept in my studies of Buddhism, but exactly where I can't remember.
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BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
Posts: 12,994
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Post by BigLoad on Jul 10, 2017 21:24:17 GMT -8
I listened to that episode on the way home from family camping the Berskshires yesterday. Mrs. big_load objected at first because she isn't familiar with the program and she doesn't usually have much patience for reflective topics. I convinced her to let it develop a bit before bailing out, and she listened to the whole thing.
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Post by johntpenca on Jul 11, 2017 18:45:31 GMT -8
Especially when one is solo, the mind may wander thinking about all manner of things. Did not read the article but David's comment made me think about one of the things I love about technical climbing. When you are doing it, little enters your mind other than the rock or ice in front you. The rest of the world and most thoughts to which one's mind normally gravitates vanish; it is all here and now, the mind it totally absorbed in making the next move. Time passes without realizing it. |
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Post by mtngrl on Jul 12, 2017 8:56:37 GMT -8
Walking is spiritual for me.
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