A running purist runs to run...
Do it for the medals, do it for the pesonal best times, do it for the t-shirts, or do it for whatever social / interpersonal reasons you have, but when you run, do it for the foundational reason that it opens your body and soul. And when you are open, the stress, frustration, and injury pours out of you, and is replaced by calm, peace, and appreciation. This is the method for running purity.
We are human beings, so we are littered and hampered by human desires. But when I run, I constantly focus on why I am running. It is a gift from God, and I am grateful for the gift. I am blessed to be able to run, and I intend to celebrate that gift as often as possible. So when I put one foot in front of the other, I pour out the bad...which can take a few miles sometimes...and take in the good. And when I am finished with my run, I am rejuvinated with a more pure body and soul. I include "soul" instead of "mind" because it is a religious experience for me. I pray before, during, and after a run. And through prayer, it centralizes the importance of peace and humility. And these elements are the key ingredients to being a successful runner.
I continue to be hampered by a stinging case of plantar fasciitis in my little toe, which precludes me from wearing shoes. Even to wear shoes for walking hurts. So, I am either barefoot, or in Vibram Five Fingers. I am not trying to convert fellow runners to VFFs, nor am I a die-hard natural runner, so they say. The simple fact is, this is the only way I can run right now.
I ran the Lucky 13.1 half-marathon at the beginning of March this year. I entered it on a whim after our spring break trip was cancelled. Wearing a pair of VFFs SeeYas LS, I took to a country road course, with absolutely ZERO spectators, in cold and windy conditions. Twelve miles was the longest previous run in my Vibrams, and my fitness was in line with the HM, so it was a safe gamble. The race went well, resulting in a 1:36 finish, 1.5 minutes faster than any previous HM finish, and just over a minute faster than any 13.1 split in my previous 2 marathons.
After a week off of running now (not because of the race, but due to severe strep throat), I am ready to figure out what kind of runner I want to be. Regardless of the conclusion at which I will arrive, I will remain a running purist.
M
