Zen and the Art of Running

I was once running with a bunch of guys discussing what was going through our minds as we ran. Some thought about their day, some tried to figure through things like calculus problems or a particularly inscrutable female; we were better able to understand things while our minds weren’t clouded with the normal chaos of the day. Other’s concentrated on “nothing” or the furthest visible point. The most talented and focused runner I’ve ever run with was there. I can’t forget his response: “I’m breathing”.

When we run, there is a well known psychotropic phenomenon often referred to as the 'runner's high'. We often run in peaceful environments, or at least environments that are not distracting, for long periods of time. And as we run, there is a sharp distinction from what our bodies are telling us, and what we are telling our bodies, though I realize this is not as simple or complete as 'inner self' vs 'outer self'. Still, there’s this important mixture of a physical brain state that detaches one from the body and enables greater levels of focus and contentment, the context of a peaceful environment and much time, and the simple, clear distinction between the intentions at different levels of self that allows for—if not transcendent states of mind —then very internally important states.