I’ve discussed this topic before, but I can’t help it… I love running on trails! This past weekend I ran with friends on essentially the same trail two days in a row. I’d run these same trails before and the joy never grows old. At times the trail was wide enough for three of us to easily run side-by-each, including a dog, so we could talk and laugh. At other times the trail is single track and we may walk to keep the dog from tripping the handler. There are wheezingly steep up hills and rapturous down hills. There are deep forest tracks with luxurious moss covered hummocks. There are wildflowers growing amongst the forest giants. Plus there are magnificent views of the ocean. How could anyone tire of this?
I have also run on a nearly weekly basis for many years on the many trails on an island nearby where I live. The aforementioned trail description could easily describe this location as well. I’ve also run on trails around lakes, up and down ravines, up and down mountain sides, along the ocean on and off the beach. These trail experiences have inspired me, motivated me and pleased me practically more than anything in my life. Running with others who also appreciate these environs is the icing on the cake as we all exclaim over and over again… “This is so beautiful!” “We are so lucky to run here!” The exclamations go on and on and they too never grow old. Even in the pouring rain or in two feet of snow. Seriously!
Running on trails is the best thing anyone can do for their brain.
There have been many magazine articles, blog posts, and books written about trail running, including entire magazines and websites dedicated to this topic, but surprisingly there are still people who religiously run on treadmills or roads or the track. Running on trails is the best thing anyone can do for their brain. The agility required to avoid tripping over roots and rocks, whilst looking at and enjoying the scenery and not falling in the water or over cliff edges, makes for a very active mind. Not that a few trips and falls don’t occasionally occur, which then enable us to show off the bruises and cuts of honour, whilst spinning a good tale.
I’ve recently been reading a book called “Running Towards Stillness” by Stephen Legault (2013) and I had just finished writing the above few paragraphs, when I read the title chapter in this book, p.74. It amazingly turned out to be on the exact same topic, with practically the exact same feelings expressed. He says this rather eloquently in these few paragraphs:
“When I run, I allow my mind to range over the landscape. The technical nature of most of my trails demands sharp focus on my feet, without which I’d surely trip or fall. In some places a fall would be very bad. But inside of that focus, my mind and my heart are working things out. I let them.
I run in nature partly because in the woods, in the hills and mountains, by the seashore, I am most able to draw the creative abundance of the natural word [sic] into me. When I run, I am reminded that I am not separate from the landscape. I am simply another element of the land moving through myriad elements indistinguishable from one another.”
“Running awakes my passions, my desires, my vulnerabilities and my creativity.”
“On this particular day, I am awestruck by the sheer magnificence of the coastal landscape. I keep exclaiming to J that “I can’t believe I live here!” It’s pure delight to pass through this place with these friends, and this life.”
I encourage all runners to experience the wilderness on trails; be they through a local park or across mountain ridges, as one of my running heroes, Adam Campbell, frequently does so well. I will leave you with this inspiring video of Adam Campbell traversing some beautiful alpine trails and mountain ridges in the South Chilcotins of British Columbia (watch until the very end… what a great way to end an awesome run):
I am a runner.
Leave a Reply