Trail Running and Finding Yourself

The great theologian and philosopher Albert Schweitzer characterized spirituality as “that feeling of significance that comes from a sense of being connected to a world beyond ourselves that is at once coherent and purposeful.” From my perspective, there is nothing more spiritual in my life as my running. Running not only connects me to a larger world but, indeed, brings coherence and purpose to an otherwise scattered and chaotic life.

Figure 1: Majestic view (around 7:45 am)

I reflected on this passage last weekend as I spent half a day running through the beautiful trails of Lythrodontas village on a sneaky warm winter day. I looked back on my life as a runner and forward to my hopes and dreams for the future and couldn’t help but revel in all the spiritual gifts running has given me. At the risk of coming across as corny or sappy, I have to admit that running has brought me closer to my spirit than anything else in my life. All this is done by connecting me to that bigger something that has been elusive in other parts of my life.

What that bigger something is exactly, I am not sure. But what I do know is that when I am out there–in the mountains, the woods, the roads, and the country–I am at peace. And that peace emanates soulfully and simultaneously from what’s inside and outside. We, as humans, long for belonging, we strive for a sense of connectedness, and we yearn for whatever that world beyond might bring us. We may not know it in the moment, but there is something inherently hopeful in the human endeavor. And, I have to say, there are few places, if any, in this life where I feel more human than when I run.

Meaning and purpose are fleeting. And yet, organized into some sense of coherence and order, the foundation of our existence is often borne out in life’s most basic pursuits; eating, sleeping, and breathing all come immediately to mind. But so too, does running.

You see, for the runner, life’s essence can often be boiled down to the fundamentals. For the runner, our meaning is honest, our focus is clear, and our purpose is obvious. Spend enough time with long-distance runners and you’ll quickly learn this because for us, running, at it’s most foundational level, is every bit as important as eating, sleeping, and breathing. And, in that context, with the rest of life stripped away, there is nothing that bares the spirit more than the simple extraordinary act of putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes, in fact many times, it may be all that we need.

Bottoms up!

Reflection is one spiritual activity that many take part in, in some manner or other, as reflecting on ones life is important if just to get ones bearings. Running has a way of stripping away the trappings the world often lays on us and allow us to think more clearly on life. As humans we really do not have too much of an

issue thinking about self as it just comes naturally. However, for me when running and, again, when most often on long runs things just seem to be more clear. There is also the aspect were running in so many ways reflects life with its ups and down and struggles and successes. I have found that the farther you run the more you recognize the ups and downs as with life and this can work to build you up for the real ups and downs one can experience in life. While this reflection on life can take place on any run I advise trying to get out on a trail or just a quiet country road some time and just think about life it can make a difference in how your day, week and even year can go.

This was by far not an exhaustive look at spirituality and running and again not an attempt to say running in and of its self is spiritual. It is just that running can be used to accentuate ones spirituality and to help see running as more than just an activity to be done with no other purpose than the activity itself. If you read this and disagree that is fine as pretty sure most people do not agree on all things but it is good to know how others view life around them and the activities they take part in. We live in a world were it seems to disagree is frowned up on but while I would like all to agree with me I know it will not be so and thus work to make sure people know why I do what I do.

To develop your own spiritual connection with running, the Rev. Roger D. Joslin, an Episcopal minister and author of Running the Spiritual Path, says to concentrate on your breathing (for more tips, see "Higher Powers,") "Listen to the sound of your feet, feel the shift of the wind--but more than anything, listen to your breath". Focusing on your breathing enables you to still the mind and become aware of things - including the simple pleasure of running. "When running is joyful and calms you and frees you to be creative and think of the positive side of life," says Heritage, "then it's truly worthwhile."

How do you feel about running?

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• Connected to my surroundings
• Haven't found a purpose yet
• Haven't thought about it
• Neither the above