Thursday, October 18, 2012

Running: a mind/body experience

Wednesday, 9am.

38 degrees F.

Mind: We're going running. 
Body: What? No. It's cold. 
Mind: I will provide you with a hat and gloves. 

5 minutes into run:
Mind: Yay! Running! So good for me. Shrink stubborn thighs, shrink. 
Knees: crackle, crackle.
Quads: I'm tired already.
Hamstrings: We're tight. 

10 minutes into run: 
Mind: Yay. Running. Must keep running. 
Body: Yay! Running is awesome! I feel great! Hey! Is that a downhill? WEEEE!

20 minutes into run: 
Mind: I'm bored. Can we stop?
Body: No! I love running! When are we going to increase our distance?!
Mind: What do you think are the odds of being snatched by a serial killer on this stretch of road? 
Body: Wha? 

30 minutes into run:
Body: I'm hot! Take off the hat and gloves immediately! 
Mind: What am I supposed to do with them?? 
Body: Carry them awkwardly, of course. Can we take off the rest of our clothes, too? I want to be free. 
Mind: No. I don't want to carry these. We're ditching them behind this telephone pole. We'll come back for them later. 

40 minutes into run: 
Body: Effing hill. Can't. Breathe. Must. Stop. 
Mind: NO! Almost done! See we are cresting the hill now! Way to go!
Body: Still. Can't. Breathe. Wheeze. Gasp. 
Mind: Why are you still panting? We're going downhill now. Weee?
Body: No. 

End of run:
Body and Mind: YAY! 

4 hours post-run:
Mind: I feel great! So calm and centered. 
Body: Stop climbing up and down the friggen stairs. No. More. Laundry. 

And there you have it. 
Running, as experienced by me. 

3 comments:

  1. wow what an inner dialog..anyone doing cardio outside have had this feeling..unfortunately at my age the four hour afterward usually has more "OMG this body is too old to get in shape" ..sounds like you had more endorphines..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Uh, yeah. I totally had this experience yesterday. Today is my off day and my mind and body are equally confused.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Interesting post. I have been wondering
    about this issue,so thanks for posting.

    ReplyDelete