What's Your Hurry?

It never ceases to amaze that by merely walking fifteen minutes from my condo which is ensconced in urban suburbia to a local public golf with perimeter chip trail that I am instantaneously transported to a place of satiety for mind, body and spirit. I say transported as there do exist portals along the trail, but I will get back to that later. Through a focus that became more sedentary that I've been for years, last winter I managed to accumulate some unneeded extra baggage (as if the emotional stuff wasn't enough to contend with). So this year has been about continuing my less active pursuits reading,writing, meditation but also insuring there is ample physical exercise. I have incorporated both a Qi Gong and Yoga practice - I give myself full permission to advance slowly in the pursuit of both, largely because my fifty something body pretty much insists on it. The chip trail was first used just for a good brisk walk and now some six months later I am back to running for longer stretches (I like to call my "program" intuitive intervals) which essentially means I run when I feel like it and walk briskly for "recovery" intervals. Gone are the dictates of a high tech watch, log book or "run-leader" all vestiges of an illusory time when I thought all that was necessary to get fit. I much prefer my new regime - I don't remember the last time I wore a watch - as far as I concerned now there is no place for a clock in my recreation/leisure time. The interesting thing about my intuitive intervals is that I recall from my certification training as a fitness professional that the "talk test" or P.R.E. (Perceived Rate of Exertion) the former being a suitable exertion level determined by ones ability to only be able to speak in short phrases or the latter, measuring one's perceived level of exertion on a scale of 0-10 (0=no effort, 10=about to have a stroke) you wanted to be in the 6-8 range, either way studies showed that when heart rates were monitored the correlation demonstrated that individuals inherently knew the correct intensity for their activity. I mean no disrespect to those that are training for competitive events - there are both training and injury prevention benefits from a well documented and regulated program. For me if I get off the couch and out there - I've already won the competition! Besides I have lost 14 pounds so far, even pants I bought just before summer are baggy now so I will let the tale of the tape speak for itself. So, my last run was a couple days ago and as I said my fitness level is gradually improving and therefore I'm able to run longer intervals which feels great - I actually can perceive the flow at times where the cadence of my body in motion, the feel of the breeze on my face, the twisting and turning trail and of course the eclectic soundtrack provided by my iPod all blend into one transcendent experience. Oh if my grade nine gym teacher could see me now! Suffice to say back then when it was announced that the activity for the one hour class was to be cross-country running this meant to me one hour to get away from the school (and the teacher he was back at the gym timing us) during which time I would just goof off with some friends. This was until the teacher informed me he was going to accompany me on the run, his rationale being he was sure I could post a better time - I tried to assure him no, actually that's the best I can do, but to no avail. Well needless to say I finished the route in considerably shorter time than usual - because I actually ran and faster than I cared to (anytime I slowed up some I hear) "come on Mason" pick it up, unless you want to come after school and do it again! Well, I finished in "record" time, though I felt like my lungs were on fire and would come up through my throat any moment, I couldn't for the life of me understand why people would choose to do this, it largely put me off running for quite some time. I chuckled to myself, here I was out running by my own choice and was actually enjoying it. I love the accompaniment of my music, the varying beat providing the tempo, sometimes the motivation sometimes the distraction. Without question some of the up beat 70's classic rock still gets the adrenaline pumping - Enya or some of the other more meditative tracks just don't cut it - great when it's time to chill, but when it's time to get it done, Nazareth "Razamanaz" or Bad Company "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" now those songs power me up and over all the hills. On this particular day I was apparently sharing the trail with a group of the afore mentioned competitive running crowd. Good God they ran fast - I could actually feel them coming before I could see them! Impressive, what with their athletic physique's and of course it being summer the apparel left very little to the imagination, they were like animated anatomy text book pictures. Huh.... so if I had a six pack that's what it would look like. I was pretty happy that my navel was visible these days! Just as well they were running in the opposite direction - it was less obvious how many times they would have lapped me while I was doing my one 3.6km loop. I decided that I could embrace both their dedication and athletic presence at the same time honouring my progress and personal goals. Frankly I couldn't see the point of running that fast unless something or somebody was chasing me and really at that rate I'm sure they weren't seeing the splendour of the surroundings along the way. As I said earlier the are portals along this trail, for example their is a long corridor where there are various archways created by the overhead growth of some of the trees, the same stretch of trail has a beautiful canopy of lush green - the air is noticeably cooler through their and I always stop and pay homage to the nature spirits and ask permission to enter, I am invariably blessed with some very valuable insights when passing through these spaces. You can't possibly be attentive to such things when your running like the gym teacher is chasing you! Then there are the assorted oak trees and their resident spirits - one stands limbs outreaching as though ready to embrace those about to pass by or perhaps is guarding the trail, another stands right in the middle of the trail in the trunk is unmistakably the face of the spirit that inhabits the tree - I always pay my respects before passing. You see it is not just my physical fitness I am attending to when on these jaunts, it is very much about my mental, emotional and spiritual wellness as well and for these to be considered their must be due diligence to connection. Where that is concerned the young athletes are missing out (oh sure they have the camaraderie within their group) but try and flash them a smile when you pass and they are going so fast and working so hard they aren't looking for that variety of connection. Now, the people that are walking their dogs and other recreational runners, different story, I can tell you with absolute certainty that some of the smiles exchanged in passing have not only touched my heart but were the physiological equivalent of the afterburner on a jet plane, if my legs were feeling heavy before hand upon the exchange they were given new life! Speaking of connection I was guided to stop at a particular part on the trail and do some Qi Gong exercises - I had thought it was because it was at the crest of a hill and there was a commanding view of a large expanse of the golf course. Even given this was so, the true reason was soon to be revealed - just as I looked skyward to do an exercise known as "pulling down the heavens" the iridescent form of a humming bird was shimmering in the sunlight as it did a series of aerobatic loops and turns this I must add happened just as a particularly inspiring passage of music from the soundtrack of "August Rush" was reaching a crescendo - I was literally moved to tears, it was beautiful. Now as I said timed intervals, coaches and competition may have their place but for me fitness/wellness is now more about connection. So if you ever want to join me on the trail you are more than welcome - but leave your watch at home!