As originally posted on http://marleestarliper.com
These past few weeks, I have revered running in a new way. This was largely inspired after I had recently read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. The book provides much insight into the culture of a Native American tribe called the Tarahumara, who are famously isolated and whose lifestyle consists of running ultras through the Copper Canyons in Mexico. Also included were various stories of other incredible ultra runners with their superhuman feats, and several other historical aspects of running were also explored. All of it was incredibly inspiring and thought-provoking.
It made me contemplate the essence of running, and how its significance has changed so much over time. It gave me the desire to embrace the original purity of running and remove everything else that may taint the sacred qualities that it began with. I’m absolutely fascinated by the seemingly superhuman powers that can be accessed through the most simple, minimalistic, traditional methods. Especially with today’s modern science and technology, such techniques may seem too outdated or insufficient, yet they are still revered as timeless secrets that remind us of the power of our origins. Over time, we have made running into a rather high-end sport, but we must not lose sight of it fundamentally being a form of art that embodies the design of our true human nature.
I’ve known for a while now that I would like to run ultras someday, but now I’m a total goner. This book inspired me to realize that having the ability to run as far as your heart wants to go is one of the ultimate forms of freedom, and it connects you to both yourself and the earth in an exceptionally profound way. I think ultra-running is the best way to explore the world in the wild, uninhibited, and intimate way that I want to experience. In effect, that opens the door for a whole new way of life to be lived–pure, simple, original, and utterly free! However, I’m saving those crazy adventures for a later time in life…
But for now, this same kind of inspiration has deepened my appreciation for what running has to offer. Especially during these few weeks of summer training, I have primarily embraced my runs as opportunities for creativity and play. I have been taking advantage of every opportunity to explore new routes, run on more rugged trails, challenging roads, and/or with company. This has kept me centered upon the pure joy and freedom that are to be found within each run, and I have thus learned how to run more carefree; that is, disengaged from any aspects of time and entirely immersed in the present moment. With this awareness, I have also discovered a greater sense of ease in the movement, as I physically feel more unified with the earth I am traversing. I can pretend that I, like the Tarahumara, have no other concern besides embracing the earth as my infinite playground to conquer!
The words came to me while running on a trail last week: “joy unspeakable”, as if the feeling could only be expressed through the act of running itself and witnessed as such. However, it may be better said by the following phrase found in Born to Run, which describes Emil Zatopek: “his love of life shone through every movement” (99). Like Zatopek, what fuels me is not just a love of running–it’s a love of life itself! Running is such a special way of encapsulating the connection between running and life, because it’s such a powerful form of zeal and passion put into active motion! Without a doubt, the struggles I’ve experienced throughout the past two years have deepened this perspective. Now, I value each minute and mile of running as the most precious gift–not one is taken for granted–for hardly anything feels more freeing than being able to fulfill what I was called and created to do!
I think this heartfelt perspective has also helped my mindset in very significant ways (which I hope to keep solidified, even in the midst of competitive seasons). Viewing running as a sheer gift has helped me not get too greedy with it–something that I have certainly struggled with in the past. By focusing on simply doing what needs to be done, savoring each moment contained within, and not comparing, overthinking, or putting pressure on myself to go beyond what is necessary has helped me establish a more healthy and fun relationship with running. Additionally, this helps me avoid the perfectionistic tendencies that I often fell into in the past. Overall, this approach has allowed me to maintain a more ideal balance within all areas of my training (mental, physical, emotional and spiritual) and therefore helps me stay healthy! I’m thankful for the experiences that have led me to achieve this intensified appreciation for the gift of running, because it has taught me how to respect it more and be a better steward of my training. As a result, I feel that I have been rewarded with invaluable lessons and skills that will enable me to enjoy a more happy, healthy and sustainable lifetime of running ahead!
After all, that’s the most beautiful aspect of this sport: it’s really never been about running. It’s about the journey of discovery that naturally results when running becomes part of your life. It’s an ongoing endeavor that transforms you into the best version of yourself. It’s a process of continuously redefining your limits, obtaining new perspective, learning how to dream beyond the horizons you can see, and hopefully uncovering some of the secrets of life–along with those contained within yourself! Running opens so many doors, gives you the opportunity to connect with others in a most unique community, helps you get in tune with earth’s nature and your human nature, and hopefully will provide you the means of becoming all that you were meant to be! It’s the gift that never stops giving, if you choose to always treasure it as such–it’s by design!
To sum everything up, I’ll end with this: it’s easy to get caught up in many things within this sport, but I will always encourage others to simply let running be the gift that it is–just ENJOY it!! Because if you ask me, I believe that having this kind of reverence for whatever it is that you choose to do is the most effective gateway through which the greatest success can be achieved.
“That was the real secret of the Tarahumara: they’d never forgotten what it felt like to love running. They remembered that running was mankind’s first fine art, our original act of inspired creation.” (Born To Run, McDougall, 92).
