Some people claim that running clears their minds. These people must have NOTHING going on in their lives. I can't "clear my mind" at any point in the day. There are too many things happening - work, kids, Hubs, errands, bills, kids, hair falling out, pimples, kids.....the list is endless. How does ANYONE run and NOT think about something?
This morning I ran four miles. It was 5:15am, dark, and cool enough I didn't die. As I ran past street lights, my shadow would be there with me, slightly taunting when stretched out, but encouraging as I watched my arms swing back and forth. I ran a mile and a half along the city highway, on its broad shoulders and under the watchful eye of the street lamps. As I approached a lamp, the shadow shrunk...and I swear she was talking to me. This isn't the first time, mind you. I've had conversations with my shadow several times over the past few weeks.
"Swing your arms, woman! I'm not gonna make it up this hill!"
"Leave me alone, seriously. You're about to get a re-charge once we pass this light and you'll be tall again. I'll still be right here, panting like an overweight wiener dog."
I passed the light and out stretched the shadow....long and lean again...in step with me.
"Could you PLEASE stand up a little taller when you run? Do you SEE how your hips are swishing side to side? This isn't a catwalk, lady."
I glanced down, and sure enough my hips were swishing too much, exerting more energy than necessary. I tightened up my form and stopped stooping into my step.
"Your fists are getting too high....lower your arms. I don't feel like getting cramps in my neck and shoulders, THANK YOU very much."
I take a deep breath and relax my arms, taking a moment to realize that I have had no side cramp at all this morning.
"At least there isn't a cramp this morning. We won't have to hunker over and try to alleviate it. This run is going great, don't you think, Shadow?"
"Do you SEE that my legs are now approximately two feet tall....one foot...aahhh!"
I pass another light post and watch the shadow disappear briefly, take a deep breath and watch it reappear, tall once more.
"Hey, what am I doing out here in the street? Wait a second....what happened to our boobs? Our butt? Hubs is gonna be ticked at you...all this running with me is taking all the fun stuff away from him! Ha ha ha!"
I breathe a sigh of relief as a car runs over the shadow and I get a moment's peace. All this running has forced me to realize that all the voices I hear in the house, driving me crazy each day and night, just might be my own.
18 comments:
LOL I'm not a runner but that sure sounds like it could be me when working out.
I can never clear my head. Thus the reason I slept on the couch last night and laid there thinking about 'stuff'. UGH
Ah yes....
http://momedy.blogspot.com/2009/04/voices-inside-my-head-make-me-tired.html
;)
At least your voices are working to tighten your form. Mine just want me to sit on the couch and eat ice cream.
It sounds like your running is going well!
I agree that your head is in no way cleared *while* you are running, but I find myself much less fuzzy and buzzy in there when I am done. Like so many other aspects of running, it's better when it's over. ;)
Danica - That's when you turn on the TV or radio and watch/sing along. Somehow music quiets the thoughts....or blocks them. Either way...
Kirsty - I remember this post of yours! LOL Loved it. :)
Ah, the voices. I am one of those runners, too, that can't clear my head when I run. I have to think of stuff...concentrate on stuff...to get my mind off the healthy torture I'm putting my body through. It's all a mind game afterall, right? :)
I loved this post!
I was gonna say (but Kirsty beat me to it ;) )....that the whole "clear your head" thing about running is that your head is clear AFTER you're done.
LMAO!! I walk every morning. Usually with my friend and we chat nonstop during our walks. Today...she couldnt walk. And I was alone. And I thought, Great, I can sort my thoughts and be organized for the day. NOPE! Didn't happen. I couldn't focus on one thought. I bounced all over. Hhmm...what does that mean?
I loved the way you wrote that. And I am learning how to run right now, so the reminder to keep my arms low and relaxed was great! Thanks! And just remember, exercising increases endorphins, endorphins means hubs might get lucky more...hubs will be happy with that even if the boobs and butt are disappearing!
Allyson - Healthy torture. Nice phrase. :)
CL - You should copy and paste Kirsty's link to her blog. That post she wrote was hilarious!
CLW - I think it means that our husbands need to do the dishes, cooking, laundry, and child bathing/school prep for two full weeks. We need time to regroup. Collectively herd the voices. ;)
April - Heel/toe....arms relaxed...make very loose fists and don't clinch your thumbs on the inside....don't let your bum slouch down into a "sitting" while standing position...what else?
I AM so glad that I am not the only person with the "insanity" that goes on in one's head when they run/walk.
You duel with shadows and I talk to cones or squirrels.
I'll be talking to shadows soon enough when the sunsets before I get done walk at night. I enjoyed this entry immensely.
Hahahahaha... LOVE this post! Made me laugh outloud! Sounds like one of the thousand convos I have with myself on a daily basis!
I love that you are talking to yourself, I need to get my inner voice to tell me to get off my ass. Ooops, do you allowing cursing in here? Sorry.
I just absolutely love this post. I can't even say exactly why...the voices in my mind...yes, they're me and probably driving me more crazy than my boys are. And it was so well-written.
Loved it.
IG - Wait wait...I never said "INSANE"....you're making ASSUMPTIONS now, buddy. ;)
foxy - Isn't it a refreshing feeling to see that others are as nutty as we are? I love the "group handhold" it creates.
Renee - Cursing. Check. Allowed and encouraged! Wait, I mean, "tolerated"....um, yeah.
Heather - We are at one with our voices, I am convinced. And while we like to think our boys are the crazy instigators...we deep down know better, don't we? :) Happy Tuesday.
HA, maybe I should be penpals with your shadow instead. She sounds FUN!
And I never can clear my head when I go out for walks. There's always something going on up there.
I apologize for calling your high quality mental ruminations "insane". It's not insanity until the shadow actually talks back, although Freud, Hermann Rorschach and even Ivan Petrovich Pavlov would have had a field day with the way you enjoyed your shadow being run over by a car.
:)
I'm with DR, perhaps your shadow could do a guest blog for you?
DR - Are you trying to imply that I'm NOT fun???? Shadow is a bit RUDE, if you ask me....but hey...maybe you like that... ;)
IG - The shadow needed a muzzle. If I don't have music to sing to her, she gets really mouthy. Sort of like OJ, actually.....I'll ask her if she's interesting in guesting, but it'd have to edited before being published. That's for certain.
Ah yes. Exactly why I don't meditate!
My voices are loud!!! Not that I run these days, but the only thing that keeps them at bay is the handy MP3 player!
Post a Comment