ZEN RUN

This morning I went for my beach run. I try to run the beach 2-3 times a week after my midnight shift. This also counts as my grounding because I run barefoot to enhance my training. I arrived at the beach, after changing clothes in the car, I was ready to go. This is when I noticed that the battery on my iphone was dead.

Oh no! my playlist! Zombie Run! Podcasts and Ted Talks! Today would be a quiet run with none of these to listen to. You may think this sounds trivial, and that I shouldn't be wearing a headset anyway when I am fortunate enough to be able to run in such a beautiful location. You might say that just the scenery alone would be enough motivation and that I wouldn't need my music as a distraction. Well, then you would be right. Sort of...

You see, I use a 180 beat cadence (which can be found in most pop music) to make sure that I am running at a fast enough speed for my training. My routine consists of running to the beat, and if a really good song comes on, I can keep an accelerated pace for a pretty long time. This is called *fartlek running and is essential for speed work.

I feel super productive when I am listening to Podcasts and Ted Talks because I am learning while I run, which is a win win! Research has proven that you retain information better when obtained during physical activity. Here are some of my favorite Podcasts:

VEGAN RADIO

BROWN VEGAN

OUR HEN HOUSE

REAL LIFE RUNNING

But for today I will not be Shaking It Out, giving a One Two Punch, Clapping Along, Riding in a Little Red Wagon, doing the moves to Thriller, picking a bouquet of dogwood flowers, or getting Harder,Better,Faster,Stronger. Sorry Taylor, Kalie, Pharrell, Miranda, Michael, Darius and yes...even Kanye.

So I started out with no tunes, just the monkey inside my head (which is what I try to avoid). It's a beautiful day, 88 degrees on Crescent Beach. There are new sandbar patterns that were created overnight as the tides changed. I ran, jumping from sandbar to sandbar, sometimes slogging in water up to my knees to reach the next higher surface. The waves were choppy, but spotted with surfers trying their luck to ride that great wave.

In between the sandbars, mother nature had created little tide pools with the occasional stranded fish or crab. Jingle shells, razor clams, and coquina were abundant. While jumping the waves, I occasionally looked out at the surf to see if I could spot any dolphins or that scary fin of a shark. But no luck today.

I continued my run past the fishermen, snowbirds, and lovebirds making out under an umbrella in the sand. This particular run includes a barrier reef where I stop and do a few sun salutations for good muscle lengthening. Then off again to run under the bridge and over to the bay. There is a group of pelicans that fly overhead every in a circuitous route. They are watching the surf for jumping fish and hoping to catch a throwback tossed from the man in the fishing hat.

In the midst of movement and chaos

keep stillness inside of you.

Deepak Chopra

The bay area is like the lagoon on Gilligans Island, *offshore bars appear and change daily according to the terrain that currents and waves dictate. It looks like you are walking on water when you are out on a bar that is usually submerged. The seagulls screech drowns out the construction crew on the bridge. The lagoon has a quietness attached, but with a feeling of vast aquatic life force. Without headphones I am more aware of my surroundings and feel appreciative for this opportunity. After a short stop to look for shells, it's time to head back.

I pick up my speed and begin to count the ten things that I am grateful for. Most of my blog and video ideas have been concocted while running. Epiphanies and solutions to problems are another benefit that I often achieve. The *runners high that I mentioned above really exists - but occurs for me only during a threshold run. My mind seems to have a crisper awareness without the audio distraction. I'm not saying that I will never run with headphones again, but I will make an effort to occasionally get back to nature in full awareness. Maybe I will forget to charge my phone once a month. Todays' run also counted as meditation, so it's a win, win, win.

Keep Dreaming,

Coleen

*fartlek - Swedish word for "speed play". Training of fast running intermixed with periods of slower running.

*offshore bars - elongated ridges and mounds of sands or gravel deposited beyond a shoreline by currents and waves.

*runners high - a feeling of euphoria coupled with reduced anxiety and a lessened ability to feel pain.

Sources:

Dictionary.com

Thefreedictionary.com