A few days ago I was out for a run when I caught a glimpse of myself in a storefront window. I was still in the warm up miles of my run and it showed. I looked tense – shoulders scrunched up, arms tight and stiff. I thought to myself, “relax!”. It wasn’t happening. I passed another storefront window and stole a glance. I looked even worse. As I continued along I took a deep breath and then another. I took myself back to my kung-fu days. I could hear Sifu Steve going through the meditation process with us at the beginning of class:
Control your breathing.
Check.
In through the nose, out through the mouth.
Got it.
Find a focal point to concentrate on, but stay aware of everything in the room.
It was kinda working. I could feel my shoulders lower, my arms loosen up.
Now close your eyes and listen…
I started to close my eyes.
Whoa! Not while you’re running, you idiot!
Now close your eyes and listen…
I looked around. Long straight away, no traffic, no other runners, a full 3/4 of a block to the next intersection. I let my eyelids fall and ran about 10 paces.
Listen to your breathing.
Almost instantly my entire body relaxed. I opened my eyes and found myself both at ease and fully alert. Over the next 4 or 5 miles I found myself in an almost meditative state – relaxed yet aware – flying (that’s what it felt like) along at a much faster pace than I had intended when I went out. My mind was practically empty, almost zen-like, as I floated through the streets of my town. Obviously I had to stay aware of traffic, but for the most part, I was able to listen solely to my footfalls and breathing, intertwined in their rhythm. Inevitably I came to an intersection where I had to stop and the spell was broken.
I’m hoping I can find a way to replicate this experience the next time I run.
I’m thinking that I may try to expand this running with my eyes closed thing beyond just running. Taking a moment to reduce the data input, listen to my breathing and footsteps and then refocus. Probably not a good idea to try it while driving a vehicle, but maybe during high stress moments in the day.
Close the eyes, control the breathing, relax the shoulders. Open the eyes and fly.
Run Luau Run 
Wow that is intense. Not sure I could close my eyes and run, but I totally get what your saying. ZEN RUNS RULES!
Um, this post made me nervous. How about a little eyes-closed, inhale/exhale meditation *before* the run, mister Skywalker/runner? 😉
I loved this post! My “usual” run when I can’t do anything exotic (like a nearby trail) is my neighborhood loop, which is a little over 1.5 miles. So in a typical night I do a little over 3 miles. The neighborhood is pretty quiet, especially as it gets later at night, and once in a while, when I am sure the coast is clear of oncoming traffic (vehicular and canine), I close my eyes just briefly. It’s not as involved as the meditation steps you talk about above, but I agree that for that briefest of moments, I am somewhere else.
Thanks Paula! As much as I am tempted to see how far I can stretch it, I think 10 paces is about as far as I’m willing to go…would be cool to see if I could hit 20 though… 😉
I used to do that a lot while walking. I’d try to get up to 20 paces. But I’d be freaking out by then, sure I was wandering off into the road. I was always right in the center doing fine, but it’s a total mind game.
Um, as the mother of your children I’m prone to agree with Michelle.
Watch out for that big tre- hmmm, never mind.