Runners: A few random solicitations about you and your frame of mind while running...

[WritingIsMyReligion]

I've been thinking of taking up distance running--NOT marathon training or anything of the sort, just going at it (eventually a couple of miles a shot--who knows) for something to do and, of course, for excellent exercise. I'm one of those people who, under the influence of music, feels half-invincible and gets into something of a trance in which all other things come to the wayside, creating a wonderful groove in which to do homework/basically anything else; this makes me think, however naively, that as long as I could be plugged into some kickin' music, I could run for quite some distance (for an amateur, anyway) without noticing the discomfort of running.

My main question/concern/curiosity about this, of course, is whether such kind of mentally disengaged but still physically involved running is, well, advised--whether it's effective at getting exercise, whether it's even "safe," both in terms of being wary of being kidnapped and in terms of being aware of whether or not you're about to keel over. All the serious trackies I know are all about being every moment with every step, feeling "the burn," etc. etc. etc. This does not attract me at all to running; what attracts me is the compulsion I feel in my legs several times a day to just bolt and do something, as well as the chance to get great physical activity. I feel like I can't just run and think of nothing but running--I'm not great with menial tasks; whenever I have to sweep or vacuum or anything else, I always lose myself in thoughts completely unrelated to the task at hand, and though the quality of the task generally is not sacrificed, I'm not sure whether the same disengagement is good when running.

Basically, my main question boils down to, "What the hell do you think about when running?" Do you run until you're in a thoughtless stupor? Do you run while thinking about every step, every inch, every mile to cover? Do you let your thoughts drift? Do you listen to music while running, or is that the equivalent of "cheating"? I don't feel like I could just run, thinking of nothing but running, without going absolutely mad, but perhaps I'm underestimating myself, or being a wuss. :D

I'm sure I'm making a huge, convoluted stink over a minor/simple point of running, but I'm very curious as to how runners occupy themselves while running. Surely just running, doing nothing more, thinking of nothing more, can't be satisfying (exceptions made for during races, of course).

Sorry for the craziness, but I am so curious as to how it is done, mentally, what sort of mental state one ought to be in to get the best health benefits out of running. Is there even a preferable state, or is it all relative?

:crazy:

Thanks much in advance!

:hi:

On Edit: Typos!

[triguy46]

1. Easy. Don't worry about the mental. Focus on getting the first foot out the door...

and making it a regular routine.

My knees are now shot after 24 years and over 30000 miles,and I thought of everything and anything. Please do NOT wear headphones when running, it is so dangerous, you can't hear cars behind you or the assailant. My wife and I would joke about what snippets of songs get stuck in your head. If you like to run, and you run regularly, what you think about is secondary. There have been runs in which I've looked up and realized that a mile or so had passed and I had no memory of it from being so into a thought, memory, idea, etc.



An alternative would be a running partner. For years wife and I trained togehter and that was so good for our marriage. I was also a regular runner with a physicist, chemist, botanist, firefighter and oil man. The conversations ranged far and wide.

Good luck and be careful. Just do it.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

2. Sounds good to me.

I was mainly worried about the whole "mind drifting" business--obviously it's not cool to be completely out of it, as it is very dangerous, but otherwise running seems like such a masochist thing to do, something you'd do to punish yourself, thinking only of the physical sensations. No music is a sort of depressing thought--I do nearly everything to music--but I understand completely the safety issues there. I can sing whole songs in my head; that just might have to suffice. :D

Thanks much for the advice. :hi:

[triguy46]

3. The zoning out was something I looked forward to, a way to erase the mind, clear the brain.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

4. Yes--there's that appeal for me, too, a way to just be primal and empty-headed for awhile.

If you don't mind, can I ask how it's best to get started in running? I've heard and read things on several different opinions, mostly broken into those who think it's best to at first break up running with lots of walking, gradually replacing the walking until you're solely running, and those who say to just jump in from the beginning. For health reasons, gradual immersion sounds pretty good--obviously trying to run 10 miles the first time you run isn't a smart idea--but it seems to me there was a fairly good reason to just jump in (reasonably) as well.

:hi: