Parallels between long distance running and meditation !
By: Gaurav Sharma
Tags: Ottawa, Running, Meditation

I recently finished my third marathon, and as always, very delighted to have done it again. Training for a marathon requires a disciplined four month training (six to eight if you are a first time marathoner) that includes diet, strict training routines, and sacrificing some part of your social life (need to be in bed early). The training is very structured that includes: interval training, hills, tempo runs, core workouts, and a recovery day that could include swimming, yoga, etc.

In this blog, I will be talking more about the mental aspect of the training, you can find tonne of material on the physical aspect of the training online. I will discuss how meditation, and mindfulness personally help me to set goals, and what mental preparations I do to work towards those goals.

Long distance running, especially endurance runs are usually more than 15 kms in distance. In training for a marathon, a runner increases the distance gradually based on their baseline fitness and endurance. Terms like associative and dissociative running are not very common in general public discourses. Associative running essentially means tuning into yourself while focussing on the task in hand, which means paying attention to form, breathing, and consistency (speed). Dissociative running on the other hand means letting one’s thoughts wander: consciously, or sub consciously (tuning out). This may include singing, self talk, etc. One thing I would like to mention here is that listening to music can be a part of dissociative running, but long distance runners usually don’t use that. The reason for that is that long distance running requires conserving energy, and for that one needs to run at a steady pace for several hours. Music stimulates or excites the brain giving the body adrenaline rush, depleting the precious energy reserves (fight and flight response, sympathetic response) in the process. Since energy conservation is key to running long distances, it is then obvious that body must be relaxed, and tuned in while running.

I personally experience my mind wander between tuned in state to words of affirmation, looking at the scenery, and feeling the sun rays or wind. The focus is always to stay tuned in, as it is meditative. The mental preparation that goes into it is similar to the practice of meditation. The more you practice, the better you get. Meditation also requires one to be disciplined in terms of diet, sleep, work and overall balance. I do not necessarily meditate when I train for marathon, but I do visualise before going to bed for five minutes. It’s very important for me as it sets the tone for a good night sleep, and I get up feeling energised. I can then focus on my work better, and ofcourse spend quality time training.

One of the benefits of tuning in, which is focusing on breathing and form while running is : quite, calm mind. The result of that is you observe your performance in a non judgemental way and be content with it. This should not be confused with lack of competitiveness. In short, you are cultivating habits that allow you to enjoy the process, and the results then follows. This may be contrary to the mainstream beliefs or perception where athletes show their anger, frustration, or other emotions. Those are just one tiny part of the larger picture.

The mind body connect experience can be the same for both meditation, and long distance running. Training with defined goals, and tuning in gives a sense of worthiness, purpose and vision. This helps then in every aspect of life : work, relations, self reflection. Change happens not from a point of resistance or self criticism, but from simply acknowledging that something needs to be addressed, and then setting in the processes like meditation, visualisation, words of affirmation, etc. And, there are no fast food solution! Patience is the key.