The Zone: we all know it. We’ve all been there before. It’s the holy grail of running experience, and the reason that some people hit the road in the first place. But how much time do you actually spend there, in that elusive place of weightlessness, timelessness, pure effortlessness and Flow? Whatever figure comes to mind, the answer is surely “not enough”. Continue reading Running as meditation (or how to meditate while running)
Running, spiritual experience, and the origins of man
Long distance running and spirituality have always shared a deep connection. The Buddhist marathon monks of Mount Hiei and the Lung Gompa runners of Tibet are perhaps the most famous examples of formalised schools of spiritual training in which running forms a central element. Tribes of the American southwest, most notably the Hopi and Navajo, also traditionally placed an emphasis on ultrarunning, as a test of physical strength and means to connect with spirit.
Speak to any marathoner or ultrarunner today, and chances are you’re dealing with somebody for whom the material aspects of life are just the outer shell of a deeper experience. Continue reading Running, spiritual experience, and the origins of man
Tallis Shivantar 