I was beckoned by the light of the dawn rising behind the bare trees of winter. Just one peep through my window was all the enticement I required. I could feel my excitement rising in line with the sun as I readied myself for an early Sunday morning run. I love the sense of freedom I feel from walking out the door with a clarity of purpose; that this is my time, no baggage, no chicks at my heal, no commitments, just me and the big outdoors! It felt like an emergence from a winter hibernation, out into the sweet song of birds sounding like a celebratory chorus of, “spring is coming!”.
The air felt momentarily biting in the frosty morn, which soon felt refreshing. I always walk for five minutes and begin my run once I leave the streets behind me and pass over the old railway bridge onto the wild side. I turned to follow the track and was faced with the golden light of the sun still beneath the horizon, but uninhibited by any clouds or buildings, just a clear bright and hazy view across the countryside which was breath-taking. I was absolutely full of adrenalin by this point and excited to start running. I noted the extent of mud in comparison to this time last year remembering that it was so thick and slippery it was pretty impossible to run on. I also noticed the poplar still in bud, not yet having released its deep red catkins, and one of my tree trail labels on a holly that peeped out between the spikes.
As I rounded a corner and away from the railway, I crossed a small stone footbridge and heard the running water down the little arc-shaped fall, now the sun round and full and golden behind a row of tall pines in the distance. It felt so joyful and powerful running along between the stream and the rising sun, birds with their sweet soundtrack. I ran almost all the way up to the top of the hill and enjoyed a good stretch on the sunshiny summit. I picked up my pace again to run down and with sunshine warming my back I realised that I’d most likely been smiling all the way, and I was certainly smiling then, like a playful child just for the love of that ‘running down a hill’ feeling. It is just a short circuit, just 15 minutes, and so soon I reached the ‘home-run’; the long stretch of lane before I come to a halt back at the railway bridge where I began.
The run challenges me with uneven terrain, up and down and around, mud, grass and gates, and I absolutely love the variation. I wear my barefoot running shoes and enjoy not only sensing the variety beneath my feel, but also the way my feet feel when they plant down with each step, so unlike wearing any regular shoes that feel constricting by comparison.
If I asked myself what is it that has kept me regularly running my short 15 minute run over these past 3 years, what would I say? On reflection I guess it is the sense of freedom and connection that it gives me. Freedom in the sense that I can walk out the door whilst the children are sleeping, all is quiet of human activity, and I can merge into the wild freedom of nature, running water, birds singing and sun rising.
With a warmed body, more supple joints, rhythmic breathing and increased blood flow, particularly along the ‘home-run’, it feels like I can run at lightning speed with effortless ease, that sense of freedom which is provided by the act of running itself. This is very empowering. I really enjoy the five minute walk home where I savour this feeling, the warmth, and the joy and the satisfaction, knowing that these endorphins will give me the motivation I need to move through my day with ease. Less than half an hour out of the house and I have increased my capacity to manage whatever the day may bring. And on top of this I have freedom of movement and freedom of thought as it really does clear out the clutter of the mind!
As well as my sense of freedom, I am absolutely full of gratitude for the space in nature to deepen my connection to self, and as a consequence enjoy more nourishing connections with others.
I know that running is not for everyone, however, for me it was just the thing to meet my need for freedom, expand my capacity and empower myself to do the things I want to do today.
If you dedicated half an hour to meeting an important need of yours today, what would it be and how would you go about meeting it?
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