Running.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
♥ Sunday, April 27, 2008
What i will dwell into, is what some might call the psychology of running. The basic motivation behind running- why does a person (or I) run.
People run for 2 reasons. They run to something, or they run away from something. There are no other reasons that are more basic to this.
Running to- literally? to lose weight, to grab that championship or baton, to look good aesthetically, to be challenged, whatever. Take it one step deeper. A person runs to a destination because that is a microcosm of what life has been about. The very words "pace of life" suggests walking and with speed. Running is then a metaphor of what life has been about, and what life is going to be about. The paper "chase", the daily "run" of events, the "motion" of life, are all movements that in some way or another, we are a part of. Running, is man's theatrical display of his life is a short span of an hour- that perseverance, motivation, disappointment, that shortness of breath and that fatigue that all gets to us, that achievement and endorphin rush that seems to give life its meaning. So why do we run? Because we want to express ourselves.
I think Sophie's world gave me the idea that somehow the world was a stage; or that the greatest comedies were those that reflected the true realities of man mosttt honestly. Looking at the caricatures and political rhetorics or satires, there is huge amount of truth in this theory actually. Now that being said, when it comes to running, it is useful to see it as just another form of display.
Running away? Well that has its metaphorical allusions to the world as well doesnt it. Adrenaline is what gives rise to a "fight or flight" situation (namely when one faces fear); that same hormone is being produced before one embarks on a run. Running in some sense is liberating because of the fear it exculpates. In that short burst of 100 m, one enjoys the sanctity of freedom of mind, away from the hustles and bustles (i would even go so far to say that in that short 30 secs, man can experience what buddhists call ZEN), and it is the perfect medium for connecting with God. Because that is when one is completely free. He is neither held back by the chains of reality or illusion, nor the shackles of ambition and self-consciousness, he is not held back by the test tomorrow or the work due next week. He is free.
They say "be still and know that i am God". Really? Perhaps that is a level i have yet attain. But my point of view is completely in contrary to that- i think Man experiences God when he is going at his fastest. The times i've sprinted (ok well to many others, that could just be an equivalent of their jogging), I can testify it was nothing short of fantastic- there is some sort of philospical "wipe out of thoughts" so to speak- there's first whatever is on my mind and that is gradually erased by the only reality before me- the run. At no point in time in my life can i say that i have had so much focus on a single aspect.
I perhaps have given escapism a whole new meaning. What maybe i am trying to say is that, it is within man's capacity to find his freedom. Whilst i might have found a glimpse of mine in running, it should challenge the reader of this blog to find his.