Long Runs

How long should a long run be?

For some runners, it might be based on the distance or miles logged.

For others it might have been more about the duration.

Experts have concluded that the hours logged are more important than the distance covered. and usually the advice is to go slow to train for endurance and sustenance.

For me, long runs have become a treat. A date out with myself and a journey of excursions of sort with myself. I am free to run for how long I wish - both distance and time (and of course could endure) - though I generally have a plan on the route/area to cover. Moreover, long runs can become a discovery to new places I'd never been nor ventured to, on a typical day.

A long run of mine could range from an 8k to more than 18k distance covered. The duration could range from an hour plus to over three hours. The pace? Haha .... sometimes as slow as a walk, and stop, to observe and take the "perfect" photo of a wildlife. I am often detoured and slowed down by new places I wanna discover, and wild animals and plants to appreciate! Not to mention too, the traffic junctions I have to encounter and pause at so many times living, and running, in a City State.

A long run for me is also an opportunity to unwind and find back the magical moments of meditative sensation that I had felt years ago, but now seldom.

A long run is a precious solo time with myself, away from other people, normal routines and duties, though I am also mindful of time - as I am still bounded by commitments - family, chores, work later in the day. My internal grouse is that I never wake up early enough to enjoy more this time freely.

My long runs sometimes become even longer than I would forsee or plan for the follwing reasons:

1. Seek shelter and protection from bad weather.

It poured so heavily on this occasion that I gotta seek shelter under a flyover while shivering in the cold.

Plus: This traffic crossing can take very long to clear, and sometimes despite it's the green man on, the vehicles would still dash for their chances.

2. Observe and pursue wild animal enounters.

A little Striated Heron searching for food along a river canal.

It's not always so lucky to spot a family of otters enjoying their rollin-good-time in the sand! 😀

3. Try a new route that I have never taken before. And sometimes I just want to push myself a little further beyond what I have planned for. Another possibilty: I just needed to push further for a better end point to to seek food or transport back home! 😋

My long runs have different possibilites, and that is why I always look forward to doing them. I can go really slow and enjoy the journey all with and by myself. I find loads of discovery both internally and externally, and because they always add variety, learning and new ventures in my life! 

Toast to another Long Run! 🍹

Solitude

One of the reasons I enjoy my long runs is that I get periods of alone time - though getting those feet out of the door can be a challenge sometimes.

Today as I started to immerse joyfully in my solitude, I question myself, why I enjoy this running alone with myself so much. 

I realized that I get to be my most authentic self - my jubiliant moments when I run well; my run-down states (pun intended) that I accept with grace as I plough on, soaked in perspiration and in all unkemptness. I accept my highs and lows during the run. I see my own performances in my runs, whether they are of quality or not. I see my efforts - when I push on despite the exhaustion and pain; when I slack off even though I could do so much more... And so my runs are those times I see and accept myself for who I am, and what I could do next as the rambles of thoughts go on silently in my mind.

When we are with people, we tend to put on a different self.

I ask myself how much we are ourselves when with others, and even our loved ones.

Can we afford to be our most authentic selves, even with our loved ones?

I learnt about self-love and self-value by being the most authentic self in order to atttract goodness in life from the book I was reading last evening. And today, I faced my own question as I ran.

I mean, there must be some form of pretence, or at least the slightest shield or veil we use when interacting with others, be it reasons due to professionalism, work, maintaining cordial relationships, assuming certain responsiblities and accountabilities when with others. Can we really shed it all and still escape unhurt, or best, emerge victorious? I am not sure.

How authentic can we be, without costing our relationships and effective functions in life when dealing with others?

Perhaps I will deal more with this question in another long run.