Mind My Run

8 April 2026

Missed my long run last week as I was not feeling too well, and had to tend to some personal errands. My weekend run was super easy clocked at 6+Km, with still an exhausted body.

It felt so refreshing to step onto another long run today, though I was a little apprehensive of my ability. The weather forecast reported late morning showers, so I was a little worried when I saw the cloudy sky. Luckily I was able to step out slightly earlier than before.

I was glad that the weather was lovely! No harsh sun rays pelting down, blinding my vision. Though humid, I was grateful to have this cool weather to run in. When I reached the nature park, I realized that it was the haze that partially blocked the sunlight. The park was all dewy and wet and me too, getting damp from the environment and my own perspiration in the humidity.

My body felt good to run up the usual slope, though I maintained an easy pace. Everything was nice. The fellow park-goers were happily enjoying their morning exercise.

Misty Morning in the Forest

Soon the sun shone through the clouds and haze and it became sunny.

As I ran back down the slope, I was astonished to have felt droplets raining down. It was drizzling in the sunny weather!

Luckily the next section was forested and the light drizzle gradually tapered off, though the strong rays did not.

No snakes today but I caught sight of a little grasshopper.

As I took in steady breaths with each step in rhythm, I had this realization that running is somewhat how I felt in meditation. There are times when it felt so effortless that I did not realize I was pushing through it.

Most times though the sensation was a little uncomfortable, yet  I want to prolong doing and maintaining.

Fast pace; slow pace. They apply to both activities.  

I could be totally absorbed, or be aware of the efforts, and for both I sometimes wanna give up

The interesting thing is one activity is active, while the other is more static. Yet the mind in both experiences similar thoughts. So does the body 

I am happy to realize this

Out of the park and I ran to the newly paved stadium as I planned to collect something from a friend's place near the stadium.

It's been years since I last ran on the stadium track. By the time I reached the stadium, it was near 11am. It was so hot! Still, I decided to run one lap just to celebrate my long lost time training there ( I started running on tracks on this very stadium). The new paved lanes felt bouncy to my each step landed. It felt good, though scorchingly hot!

It also felt good to cool down and do stretching on the spectators' stand. So long! and nostalgia much!

In the Shade on the Spectators' Stand

During my mindful breathing session after the stretches,  I realised how fortunate it is to be alive - to feel the heat, to feel the refreshing breeze, to still hear sounds and even noises from the traffic and the pounding sounds from the nearby construction - to still be able to process irritating noises and discomfort because I am still alive! Many times we wanna escape from discomfort, but it is only when we still have this life, that we can experience discomfort. Had we been gone, all these sensations, good and bad, comfortable and not, perceived happiness and suffering would be no more. How precious this life is! How fortunate when we can still perceive a range of feelings, sensations and experiences! A smile was felt across my face.

I next proceeded to have a hearty bowl of Laksa at the nearby hawker centre, before moving on to my errands.

A nice finish to my run :)

Absolutely Satisfying!