Letting Go And Running With It

There are too many distractions in our world that readily assail us at any juncture. Whether it’s work, or life, or relationships, or family, or any combination, it’s easy to get caught up in the “stuff”. Suddenly, stuff drives your day. And as they say, don’t sweat the small stuff, right? Well, a lot of stuff suddenly makes your day full of cognitive stress.

It is no small wonder that I don’t run with an iPod or mp3 player, simply because I find this to be a great time to get away from all the distractions of daily life. The peacefulness of hearing my feet strike the ground, my breathing, and then, my thoughts. And then – the moment. That precious moment. And another. And another. It’s almost like a string of pearls – each moment beautiful of it’s own accord, strung together one by one. A time when all stands still, when stuff just doesn’t matter, but the moment does.

Today’s 3M half marathon was a great reminder of how running provides us not only with an environment in which to "let go”, but also a metaphor for life as we know it. This metaphor also stands to remind us of how we err in daily life, and how we can excel.

Even when you know that stuff happens, that distractions rule your existence, it’s a challenge to rectify it. It is so hard to simply “be in the moment” and to let go of our attachment to emotions, drama, angst, anger, frustration, discontent, and a plethora of unpleasant stuff. And let’s face it – can you be self-actualized when you are chasing stuff around all day?

Prior to running today, my goal was simple: to simply “let go”, to be in the moment, to take each step left, right, and left again. It was to let go of expectations and of perceived limitations, from myself and others, and to take it all moment by moment.

Suddenly, it was easier to truly enjoy the elegance and simplicity of running. Right leg, left leg, right leg – one of the most primitive things we do as humans on this planet, yet one of the most graceful and purpose-driven. There were times when I would push, and times when I would ease back, feeling the strength in my legs, feeling the sunlight on my face.  Nothing really mattered – yet everything mattered – all at the same time.

Not that there weren’t moments to challenge this theme – much like any day, actually. The race started an hour late because of some problems that the high winds created. Oh, yes, the 16 mph winds (gusting to 25 mph) were in my face – and at my back. The road rose, and the road fell. If you waited a little bit, it all changed on a dime. And as bad times came, they went as well. But by being in the moment, there isn’t an attachment to any of it – it just is as it is.

Amazingly enough, letting go isn’t “being stagnant” – it’s truly more dynamic. It’s when you feel the love in your world, comprehend it, and have full capacity to bask in it. It’s when those that care about you make their presence known. And it’s when things that don’t matter – well, they really don’t matter, and you realize it, and let them go. As I was once told, the universe will provide. Imagine that.

It was the least amount of training that I have done to prepare for this particular race. And over the past two months, it was the most cognitive stress that I have had in many, many years.

Until I just let it all go. And ran.

It was my best half marathon since 2006.

The universe spoke. Lesson learned.

Photo credit: abesselink