Mindful Running

I am doing a workshop in Mindful Thinking and during the course, it dawned on me that the principles can work for running too and I usually end up doing this especially on my long runs (I think I even used them on the Great Barrow Challenge).

I started to do this when I started running without music.

I started to focus on:

My breathe:

• Was it too hard
• Was it forced?
• Do I need to get a rhythm?

My physical wellbeing:

• Is it too hard?
• Is it hard enough?
• Does anything hurt?
• If so, what kind of pain is it?
• Does it hurt because I am running?
• Does it hurt because I am injured?

 My thoughts:

• Am I being positive?
• Am I getting in the way of my performance?
•  Am I paying attention to this run?

My emotions:

• How do I feel about this run?
• Does this mean to me?

I know what you are thinking, a bit deep when its only a run, but I think that it is the only time that I find that I am in the moment and fully concentrating on the task at hand. I hope to use the tools that I learn to apply it to other areas in my life  as we only have one life to live.