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Monday, July 1, 2013

Running Naked...Recentering

The beginning of July.  Nearing the end of the Summer Running Streak from Runner's World, busy schedule at work lately, so today for my run I decided to unplug.  I put on my favorite running shoes and headed out the door without music or GPS.  Just the quiet pre-dawn morning, the sound of Cicadas, and the soft fall of my feet.  The sky had no moon, no stars visible this morning.  It was serene and no electronic voice interrupting a pounding tune to keep me company.  It was relaxing.  I just let my mind drift and brought it back to "oh yeah this is what my body can do."

Running naked, that is what we call running without devices and gadgets.  Not worried about pace or splits.  Just you and running.  A time to tune out everything but your body and your environment.  It can be very liberating.  I am not the girl who can sit down and meditate for a half an hour, but I can run and get lost fully in the moment.  My kind of meditation.  It can be a great break.

Don't get me wrong.  I like my I Smooth run and looking back at my stats.  I enjoy upbeat tunes that propel me forward, but sometimes it is nice to just put everything aside and run like no one is watching, just because "I can run today."  Because it is a beautiful day, because I need some time just to refocus and center.  Today was that kind of a run and I am grateful for it.

12 comments:

  1. I enjoy running naked or unplugged once in a while also. It is fun to just go on a run without any thing but running clothes and sometimes without any prepared plan on what route to run. Thanks for the reminder!

    Russ Barber

    http://runnersmania.blogspot.com

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    1. I agree it just takes you out of all the technical and reminds you about the pure fun of it.

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  2. I still don't know that I can give up the security blanket of my phone and my program. Maybe I'm still too new and don't trust my body to give myself over to the joy of running without prodding. I don't know. One day, I'm going to throw caution to the wind and give it a try.

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    1. Maybe when you feel comfortable. It has to be right for you. The first time I did it I was sure I would be heading back but I really enjoyed it. Surprised myself.

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  3. I've had a hard time running without music, but since I'm training for triathlons it is necessary! I've come to really like it, especially in the mornings. It is such great meditation and a great way to live in the moment.

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  4. I would always at least take the phone as well, in the event of sprains, twists, heart attacks, you name it! lol I've never run with music, I always seem to get some sort of rhythmic chant in my head very early on in a run and at some point this becomes at least a little meditative, I find. I DO like the idea, however, of running naked and may try that some day soon!

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    1. Good point. I do carry it I just don't use it. Hubby insists since I run pre-dawn alone. safety first!

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  5. I love running naked. I've never gone totally without (I love numbers too much, have to know what I did after the fact!), I'll usually still wear my garmin, but I don't look at it and just go with what feels good. Very liberating!

    Crazy thing is, I often run faster on my "naked" runs without even realizing it!

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    1. The first time I ran naked and got home and saw the clock I was like no way. That was so fast. I guess because I did not have my own mind analyzing all the feedback and making mental barriers for me.

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  6. I've loved running naked lately!!! So liberating!

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    1. Me too. I need to do it more. Cut the ties to my apps some.

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