Running in silence

With a challenging week at work, training has been local and from home base - literally...runs from home versus going to the gym, rides on the trainer...and a few laps in the tub - ok maybe not the last one. But I did get to experience something I hadn't in a long while.

at 4:45 AM I got up to run - as I had an 8 AM meeting and could NOT be late (run an hour, cool down, stretch do some core work and light lifting) and then get cleaned up = about 90 minutes as it takes me FOREVER to get my hair right so I had to account for that. So out the door I go. I decided that despite my puppy dog's insistence (she lollygags - and every sign post, firehydrant and mailbox in the neighborhood "knows" her), I needed to run alone this morning.

No iPod, no headphones, no nothing...me, the street and Anu (Gaelic), Gaia (Greek), Kali Ma(Hindu), or Mother Nature...however you choose to name her...

It was spectacular. As I ran, the day awoke around me. Birds chirping, peepers (frogs) up and about, beavers off to knock down trees for their dams or just to knock them down because they have big honking teeth and can do that, deer in the open areas in my neighborhood looking at me like "you don't see me, i don't see you - we're good". As I ran - I witnessed the day awakening before me. Houses came alive as folks got up for their own daily routine, the flowers began to open as the sun began to rise, the birds awoke and started their songs, the deer were out and about - and none too happy to see me plodding by them, the lake was still but there were gentle waves lapping up to the shore, either from the wind or early morning fisherman (ahem) fisher people out trying to ply the fish from the lake...i didn't see or hear that M-80 go off I swear...

Reminded me of days many (many squared) years ago when I would run in VT, WAAAAY long ago before music devices became so compact that one could carry them everywhere they went with thousand of songs at their fingertips - or the random draw the iPod chose - when one could experience the splendor around them, undisturbed by anything...

shoes hitting the pavement, breathing in rhythm with the pace, eyes and ears open to the world around you.

I had one of the best runs I had experienced in a long time. I know many are die hard "must run with music" folks...and I am one - especially indoors on a treadmill - but try it. One day, early morning or midday, late afternoon or early evening...hell - in the middle of the night - just wear reflective apparel please...

One day or night - leave the iPod or whatever MP3 player you have at home - let it rest and charge for the next run or workout. When you do - listen, look...the world is an amazing place even if it is right outside your front door, down the street and around the bend.

This is true at the gym too...I mean - come on - there are hundreds of folks working out around you - for their own reason...weight loss, training for an event....a life changing chapter has begun...or they are just there because - everyone has their reasons - hearing about it even surreptitiously - makes the world and potentially everybody's life fuller...and funnier - some of the crap people say and do at the gym is just downright hilarious.

Enjoy the day - and get out and run or walk or ride or Tri. Allow the world to give you experiences versus trying to own it...that is a hefty bill to pay and experiencing it is a hell of a lot more fun. Besides - watching a deer pretend not to notice you, or a bird, squirrel, rabbit or whatever - as the sun rises or sets, or the moon crests over your head and the world evolves with time helps one realize how simple and wonderful the world around us is.

Run, Ride, Tri and Train well my friends.