Thoreau was a surveyor, which is the practical reason he knew the Concord area as well as he did, the minute changes in its seasons and its citizens of all species. Running can be seen as a sort of surveying, allowing us to register the changes in our own neighborhoods. I know one woman on our street who told me she is glad I run because she thinks it helps keep crime down for neighbors to be out and about, watching things. Running is surveying, a crime patrol, a nature walk, a personal meditation, a social event, a fitness test, a training session, stress relief, a hundred things besides just running, and to set all of them into motion at once we simply walk outside, pick up our feet and put them down, over and over again, with total awareness. Such a wellspring of positive karma from such a simple act.
Running is the answer. That’s long been Andy’s motto, and one I’ve been delighted to adopt.
Speaking of which, how excellent it is to see this site (and you) still up and running. I had hardly dared to hope, but it’s great to see that your reports of its impending demise were exaggerated.
New Year, New Dawn. And best wishes from frrrozen Brrritain.
Thanks Roads! Happy New Year.
I have been picking up my feet and putting them down over and over again for the past few weeks at the rec center north of my home on the Terrible Treadmill, jogging for the first time in my life since I was in grade school doing the 600-yard run/walk for the President’s Fitness challenge and hating every 600 yards of it. I still hate it. But now I’m middle aged and my blood pressure is a little too high and I’m gaining weight because all my hormones have retreated, so there I am, with total awareness telling me that my left knee and right hip hurt and I’m sweating more than makes me happy. But Zen patience and commitment and concentration help. Like during zazen, I gaze with half-closed eyes a little bit downward–at the big red emergency button that reads STOP. But I’m not stopping yet. I’m glad you’re not, either. jd
Good for you Jessie! It gets easier as you go.