[Marathon Blog 10] Be like water. Change the path. Keep it interesting for yourself.
Getting ready to go out again for another session of pavement pound, monkey mind voiding, i.e. "running." I don't know what my course will be, and I wanna keep it that way.
Last night while running, I set out to run one of my usual courses. When it came time to turn left and head back around toward the coastal road, I couldn't do it. The little man on the green crosswalk sign was lit up, and my body felt like going straight, out to the airport. On the way back I changed it up even more, running through silent evening, back alley streets, and even ending up at a dead end at someone's front door, hearing the TV and some banal conversation coming from inside. About face. Find a new street.
What I realized is that I cannot be bothered to do the same thing over and over again in a sense. Much like water droplets coursing down a car window in the rain, as the car speeds down the highway, I like to make my mind up as I go, taking the path that feels the most fluid at the very moment it feels most fluid. Bruce Lee talks a lot about the power of water in his interviews on Kung Fu. I think this is an important concept.
While there is always the run, the course can be changed. For me, it is not so much about knowing the exact distance now, necessarily, but training my body and finding that meditative and very creative void for my mind to just be. The moonlit, silent backstreets of last night were like being on a different planet. Or being in a dream. Or in the past. Or inside my mind. Like running through the canals and crevices of a mind itself. Something hard to describe.
Anyway, before I set out tonight, I will fill you in on last night's run. Due to my recent vacation to Sado Island, and a lack of training on vacation, it took a bit for my body top get back into the rhythm. But, after about 3 or 4 minutes of pounding the pavement, it warmed up, and did.
Excerpt from Haruki Murakami's WHAT I TALK ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT RUNNING.
LAST NIGHT'S RUN:
Distance: 2.4 miles
Theme Song: Air - "Napalm Love."
Playlist so far:
"Under the Pressure" - The War on Drugs
"Somewhere" - Soundgarden
"Owner of a Lonely Heart" - Yes
"Rose Garden" - Lynn Anderson
"Napalm Love" - Air
Well, back at it. Looking forward to finding some new paths tonight. Or, maybe, in the interest of avoiding routine, I will go back to my old routine ;)
If you missed the past marathon blog posts, you can find them here:
~KafkA
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as Facebook and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)
Each time I take a run (jog to be honest!) I choose a different route in the lovely parque de Turia, Valencia. I'm lucky there are many paths to take, and many joggers to smile at.
Enjoy this evenings run :)
Ah, Valencia! My friend is there now. Greetings from Japan, and thanks for this lovely comment!
Thank you also! Well I hope they are having a great time, it's not so hot this week so they can explore without sweating too much!
I recommend this museum over most I have visited, and of course a walk in the old river Turia.
@kafkanarchy84 - I like your concept of changing the path like water. We all run and sometimes are bound to reach some destinations that we need to keep running to reach due to life's compulsions. However, we can always change the path!! I am going to experiment changing the path more. I already changed path when I stepped back from being stuck in the rut of being a successful executive and I will experiment further. You are an inspiration. Thanks. Upvoted
Steemit is sort of change of path for me too. With the support and inspiration of senior Steemians like you. I am making progress on my blogs. I would be honored if you visit sometime and provide guidance. Thanks
Great message! It's sad that so few people will consider it changing their path.
Upvoted and also resteemed!
Cheers, @smartdeveloper.
Nice to see good writers in the Runners community!!!
Upvoted and followed!!
BTW!
have a look at the following post https://steemit.com/running/@dragosroua/runcoin-distribution-update-friendly-reminder-and-the-roadmap
maybe you want to get involved as well!
Great article, and amazing advice!
I remember when I saw that video of Bruce Lee talking about how we should try to be more like water, and how we should learn how to adapt to every situation, just as water changes depending on the shape it's filling.
That changed my life a little, and made me understand that I need to be more flexible and to adapt to all situations, even if I like it or not.
Thanks for the article! :)
Running is such a freeing experience and why i haven't given it up after 15+years at it!
Be like water! Humans should learn to adapt! I did post one on Bruce Lee, few days back https://steemit.com/philosophy/@alexkoshy/you-will-never-get-any-more-out-of-life-than-you-expect-the-most-unappreciated-philosopher-of-the-20th-century-bruce-lee, Also I did a new post sometime back, do check that aswell!
https://steemit.com/travel/@alexkoshy/the-majestic-western-ghats-a-unesco-heritage-location-why-you-should-tour-india
How many kilometers/miles a week are you running? I would seriously recommend running more than 70k/42m a week to be in shape to run a marathon.
But anyhow, any speed and distance is good but you'll get what I mean when you run those 42k in a day.