In the sport of running, especially ultra running, it is sometimes said that a hard effort can be analogous to the ups and downs of life. Over the course of running for several hours or, maybe days, the body and mind go through many ups and downs. A person’s life experience, similarly, ebbs and flows on a larger timescale. Events such as college entry exams or job interviews may cause anxiety and other events, like a watching a sunset with a romantic interest elicit overwhelming feelings of joy. A long day on foot may feature moments crossing this spectrum of emotions. While processing these emotions, a runner may even learn about themselves and be able to apply these lessons in their daily life.

Most of the time I agree with this analogy of a long run. It is an inspirational framework to view the sport of ultra running. However sometimes, including as I am writing this, I view running differently. Running can also be an escape from the normal cycle of everyday life. Some people, usually non-runners, say people who run are “running away from their problems.”

A run represents freedom for me, a moment for myself, to do as I please. A break from sitting in an office at a desk typing on a keyboard. Completing tasks that were assigned to me by a superior. Trying to meet their expectations of my job performance so that I don’t get fired. For the purpose of receiving monetary compensation that will allow me to acquire food, shelter, and a few nice things for my family. To provide a sense of stability and safety. To create a home and one day raise children, so that they may too be able to one day sit in an office at a desk typing on a keyboard.

Running represents a break from the everyday modern life cycle. It is a chance push into an unknown territory of being. A chance to take a risk. To allow my mind to tap into an ancient state of awareness. A state of simplified focus. My heart is beating faster. My feet are pouncing across the terrain. My eyes are observing the environment around me. My ears are listening to the steps of my feet. And my mind is processing only these things, nothing more.

Then the run ends. Sometimes I feel a sense of accomplishment. Sometimes I feel like I should never run again. Either way, I put my mind and body in a state of intense awareness, a state that modern life does not seem to offer regularly. The run was an escape from modernity to a more primal experience.

Since my glute is still giving me some issues while running, I have been tapping into this primal state on the bike. I’m learning that I can achieve this simplified, intense awareness on the bike, especially climbing up mountains. This weekend I went for an adventurous 7 hour, 60 mile, 7000 ft of climbing, ride in the Santa Ynez mountains behind Santa Barbara. It was a nice primal escape from the modern office job life where I am currently doing 60-70 hour weeks. The long work hours probably led to the writings in this blog.

Music Selections of the week:

Yo La Tengo’s album I Can Feel the Heart Beating as One.

Colter Wall’s album Imaginary Appalachia

Larkin Poe’s albums Blood Harmony and Bloom

Mipso’s album Gas in the Tank: Mipso Live Across America 2023/2024

Billy Strings album Home

Grateful Dead 6/10/1976 Boston, MA. Thanks to taper: Jimmy Warburton.