Friday, November 27, 2009

the tao of the run

i arrived at UPD shortly after 7pm. i parked at the same spot i always park in, right in front of this building i never really bothered to learn the name of. i had always favored this spot for some reason. it was dark, semi-secluded, under the cover of the university's many gigantic trees. as i got out of my car, the heavens suddenly opened and it began to rain. "great timing" i mumbled, just when i BADLY needed to "do this". i decided to pass the time in the car and wait for the rain to let up. no amount of precipitation, unless of ONDOY-proportions, will stop me from having my run tonight, i determined.

"... feel free to join me tonight." i texted one, but didn't get a favorable reply.

"... wanna come with?". i messaged another, but never got a response.

"ei, are you joining me?" "i can't. my client just invited me to thanksgiving dinner." answered the third.

the rain stopped almost as suddenly as it started. i changed to my running gear and began my warm up jog, running in the opposite direction as everyone, like i always do. i took extra measure to control my pace, remembering that it was at UPD that i injured myself the last time. i paid attention to my foot placement (i should land on my mid foot. that my shin should be at least perpendicular to the ground. my heel shouldn't strike the pavement so much); my breathing (pacing was the key. i shouldn't hyperventilate and remember to take deep full breaths to stretch my intercostals to keep them from spasming); my running form (don't slouch. don't lean too far back either. i am an inverted pendulum. running should be automatic and effortless).

i tried to concentrate on the road, on the runners, on studying the technique of other joggers as they came, and as they went. i tried to soak in all this information, hoping that by overloading my brain, i can be made cerebral again, when my mind is at its strongest, and when my emotions are rendered insignificant.

running does this for me, i have learned. it makes "feeling" loneliness far more bearable.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

running has become your escape
sooner you have to face it and won't be able to run away from it

jamie da vinci! said...

@thecuriouscat. i don't think you can run away from loneliness. it sticks to you like the smell of laundry gone bad. it just helps sometimes not to get so affected by it. feeling self-pity can be more fatiguing than running for two hours straight.

wanderingcommuter said...

moving contemplations...

Rainbow Runner said...

even when i'm alone, i feel the warmth of running envelope me. it makes my running bearable. hope to pace with you soon dear friend. :-)

Unknown said...

"feeling self-pity can be more fatiguing than running for two hours straight."

well said

Unknown said...

and now, you are ready. :)

when you run, you release endorphins in your body. endorphins makes people happy. happy people are not sad. right? hehehe

see u. :)

Anonymous said...

you didn't ask me to come with you. :(

citybuoy said...

you were running in more ways than one. i get that way with work. it keeps the emo stuff at bay.

Yj said...

meron na ako pang counter strike sa emoness...

gagawa nalang ako madaming music video ko ng mga pussy cat dolls songs... hahahahaha