Friday Ramble 08/26/22

This week: Ritual, routine, and letting go.  

If you were to ask me the key to building a long term relationship with running, I’d say it’s the ability to develop routines so running becomes a ritual. Note the plural – routines – and then think about all the questions you have to answer before you head out the door. 

• When will you run?

• What will you wear?

• What will you bring with you? 

• Where will you go?

• What will you eat before, during, or after? 

When you go to the trouble of setting an alarm, laying out your clothes and gear, planning your route, and packing food and water in advance, you’re far more likely to run than not. And when all those interdependent routines become second-nature, that’s when you’ve established a running ritual. 

Quite honestly, I’d be lost without my routines. They provide structure and focus, as well as accountability. Another word for routines that runners like to use is “systems.” The more systems you have dialed in, the richer your running ecosystem becomes.  

Still, it’s funny how entrenched we can get in our little worlds. Throw an unexpected variable into the equation like weather or travel, and our best laid plans can come crashing down, like removing the wrong Jenga piece. 

The true test of routines is their adaptability. Can they handle the occasional change of scenery? Will your day be ruined if something isn’t perfect?  

Over the last few weeks while I’ve been away from home, my precious routines have been put through a blender. Everything from the time I run, to the places I go, and even the food I eat has been slightly different in some significant way. 

In the past, those disruptions had the potential to derail momentum and build frustration. This time, I leaned into the unknown by venturing outside my comfort zone and was rewarded with several moments of unexpected transcendence.