Shakeout: Feeling flow

Or maybe that’s just Pilates

Have you ever felt like you were being propelled by a mystical force during a run? This feeling, I’ll just go ahead and call it transcendence, tends to hit on steep inclines. In those moments, it’s as if an imaginary rope tied around my midsection is pulling me up the hill.

The difference between flying or flailing up an incline is the difference between being fit and wanting to be fit. When I’ve done the work to engage my climbing muscles through aerobic intervals and various strength training disciplines, those muscles engage when I need them the most. (See if you can guess what happens when the effort isn’t made.)

What I found especially cool was experiencing this rope-pull sensation while running fast during a recent long run. One second I was wrestling with my goal pace and the next moment I was blasting off into the great beyond, driven by something beyond my perceived capabilities.

These forces felt so natural and well, unforced, that they took complete control over my run. If running has a mystical component, and I believe that it does, this feeling was as nirvana-ish as I can conjure. I texted my coach afterward, and he was like, “That’s flow, dude.” He may be right, but I kind of think it’s Pilates.

This week in the Shakeout for paid subscribers: Improvisation, blister care, and leaning into recovery.