Zen

After watching a special from National Geographic about how stress has become a serial killer in our nation it made me think about what I allow to be a stressor when it should NOT be. It discussed how our fight or flight system is charged up more than it should be. So, even when its something small we become pumped up with adrenaline and cortizon, which can kill brain cells and cause us to gain weight. Both to me is terrible. One last result of stress is when it continues the end of our DNA unravels, which is suppose to hold it together.

I knew stress was not good and that I needed to relax more anyways, but with these facts I made a mental decision to take control of my brain. In the end we can allow our brains to control us or we can control it. I guess if I wanted to travel into a philosophical discussion here I would go into what controls the brain...the soul? Since the brain controls the body? Anyways, this blog is about running and not about philosophy.

Recently I have found that I enjoy the quiet again. So, today after working for 7 hours and driving 2 I went on a 2 mile hill run. It usually takes me 25 minutes, but today I did it in 23. I found a beat in my steps and a breathing pattern that lasted me longer than I thought. I felt every little tug and ache. I felt every bead of sweat form and travel down my skin. I was so connected to myself connecting to nature. It became peaceful. I felt like walking around 1.5 miles since the heat was bearing on me, but at that a moment a fat cat stared me down. It was directly in my path and it crouched down while locking its eyes on me. It did not move. This gave me the mind set to finish the course. I did and strong with a sprint.

Learning to be connected with myself intimately and learning to control my fears and pains that can prevent myself from accomplishing my goals in running will later influence my everyday life. Running is 90% mental. Its amazing what our brains can imagine and how quickly it destroys its own dreams. So, I would like to say a new saying that running is 10% physical, 40% mental, and 60% soul!