Mornings are my favorite time to run. As I head out the door, the new day has yet to take shape. There are so many possibilities. An early morning run is an excellent time to begin the day in prayer. Indeed, I’ve found running to be a form of prayer. I agree with the ishouldberunning.com blog that prayer and running go hand-in-hand.
I didn’t start running to strengthen my spiritual life. Instead, I began because I wasn’t happy with my dad’s gut. But as I have turned running into a habit, I’ve found the practice to be just as spiritual as physical.
How do you connect with God? How do you make running a form of prayer? The following steps have helped me.
Yesterday, Autumn made it clear it was here to stay. There was a dusting of snow on the ground and the wind was stiff. Bob Segar’s, Against the Wind came to mind. For the first time this season, I didn’t run in shorts. My legs thanked me. I searched for a pair of running gloves and a warm hat.
Depending on the direction I ran, the wind made me cold. I was glad for the gloves, warm hat, and jacket. It made things doable. When my back to the wind, I was tempted to think I didn’t need any of the warmer clothing. It was easy to think it was all overkill. But a sudden gust or change in direction soon proved me wrong.
My reward was the last few bursts of autumn color, and a cup of hot coffee and breakfast when I was done. Getting the courage to go out can be a challenge, but I am always glad I did.
After a couple of very cold days, this morning was a perfect time for a winter morning run. The temperature was hovering around the freezing mark. Most of the snow had melted on the asphalt trail, though there were some snowy and icy spots where trees have kept the sun at bay.
Winter Along the Wolf Creek Recreational Trail
Winter Solstice Sunrise in Southwest Ohio
Early Winter Morning Along the Wolf Creek Recreational Trail
Winter Farm Field Near US 40, Brookville, Ohio
I noticed a few things on my morning run:
The sun was shining through the clouds. Frequently this time of year, the sun shines in the morning and it becomes overcast later. If I want to see the sun, I need to get up for it.
No one else was on the trail. Yet there were scores of human footprints, bike tracks, and animal tracks. I don’t always realize that though I am alone, many have come before me.
I rarely notice when the wind is at my back, but I know when I am heading into it. I need to remember to take the time to thank those that have given me a tailwind instead of focusing on the headwinds.
Sore, tight muscles come when I’ve taken a few days off. But after a couple of miles, I forget they were aching. It reminds me to push through and know that things will get easier.
Winter officially arrives tonight. Seasons come and go. Each has their good times and challenges. May you have a great Christmas and new year. Let’s welcome the new decade, be positive and do the things that lead to success.
Wolf Creek Recreational Trail, Brookville Ohio 12/16/19
This morning, I grabbed my ice cleats and went for my run. The scenery was quite different than the same route on Saturday. There were a few tracks on the sidewalk. Some human, some four-legged. Otherwise, there wasn’t much activity on a Monday morning.
Wolf Creek Recreational Trail, Brookville Ohio, 12/16/19
There were a few things I observed as I jogged down the trail.
Environments change quickly. Be prepared when you make a journey.
If it’s cold, take a coat.
If it’s slippery, wear the right gear to keep you safe.
Even in the common, everyday places, there is something new to discover.
Some of the best moments are when you are the first to venture out.
Embrace the morning.
Be a trailblazer.
Give yourself time to think.
Talk yourself into something instead of out of it.
The journey is worth it.
It’s rarely as bad as our imagination makes it out to be.
May you have a great day. And whatever your journey this morning, embrace it and look for beauty in unexpected places.
This morning, I did something I know most guys my age don’t do. I ran eight miles. I don’t say this to brag, because I don’t consider myself an athlete. I didn’t run in high school or college. I only picked it up in my thirties when my weight was creeping up on me and my father-in-law poked my doughboy’s belly!
I say it because it is possible to be active in your fifties and beyond. This came to my mind when I read this Runner’s World article the other day:
In this article, it quotes a study that claims people felt they were too old to start exercising after they turned forty-one years old. Yet the article had five runners who began to run between the ages of fifty and eighty-four. Let that sink in! An eighty-four-year-old decided it was time to start running!
We put too many limits on ourselves. We’d like to start something but we make all kinds of excuses like:
I’m too old
I’m too young
I don’t have the money
I don’t have the time
I don’t have any talent
I don’t know anybody
The timing isn’t right
We claim we don’t want to be a number, yet do we allow numbers to limit ourselves? Do we give in to society’s expectations that are neither correct nor fulfilling?
Check with your doctor. If he or she gives you the okay, I encourage you to start exercising. It’s made a big difference in my life since I began this good habit.
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