Being in the limbo of not training with no races anywhere on my horizon has opened me up to tinkering with my running habits. Not just what I do with my actual runs (though I have played there too), but also with what I do before and after. One of my favorite new things is a post-run mini-meditation.
I was reminded recently about this little gem, Mindfulness on the Go. I once bought this book for all my co-workers because I found it to be so powerful. It shifted my thinking on meditation in a big way.
Previously, I had believed meditation required bigger blocks of time, the perfect quiet place, the ability to completely block out the world, and go blank. This book helped me see that short mindfulness practices are a form of meditation too, and that even a small amount of focus can transform my mindset and wellbeing.
Earlier this week, I was on a Zoom Roundtable for masters runners, and one panelist, Dr. Sarah Lesko, shared she had a hard time fitting meditation into her day—something I struggle with too. That reminded me of the impactful lesson from this book, which time had eroded until my practices lapsed and I forgot what I had learned all together.
Though it was on my mind, I didn’t know how I would bring mindfulness back into the fold. Then, after a taxing run on a hot, sunny day, I came into my house dripping in sweat, my heart still pounding from the hard effort. I sat down crossed legged in my kitchen to catch my breath. I noticed my pulse and heartbeat, how they were slowing back down to normal. I felt the sweat trickling and evaporating as my temperature cooled in the air-conditioned house. I let go of the tension in my muscles and took a few deep breaths. Spontaneous meditation!
I’ve done a similar check-in with my body after each run since then. Just a few minutes of focus. It leaves me feeling more connected to my own body and feeling grateful for the work it just did for me. A perfect, short, and sweet run recovery practice.