Reflections from the Road – BionicOldGuy

This is the title of a e-book by Dr. Jacqueline Simon Gunn, who’s each an avid lifetime long-distance runner and a scientific psychologist. She shares reflections on what operating means to her, each bodily and mentally. One fascinating perception I picked up was the psychological idea of “existential homelessness”, which implies we really feel we aren’t fairly at house in our lives, or one thing essential is lacking. Jacqueline says she generally feels this manner, however at all times feels fully “at home” when operating. I additionally used to really feel that manner, and endurance train crammed within the gap for me. Now meditation additionally contributes to creating me really feel at house just about on a regular basis.

Dr. Gunn additionally emphasizes that operating is probably not for everybody and that we will get the identical advantages she describes from different actions like strolling, biking, and swimming. That has been crucial for me. I used to be a operating fanatic for greater than 20 years earlier than arthritis took it away from me, however now get comparable “high” and health outcomes from strolling, climbing, and biking.

I additionally loved the chapter on operating and getting older. Exercise can delay the onset of age-related bodily decline, however not stop it. Her recommendation is to train for the fitting causes, reminiscent of bodily, non secular, and psychological well-being. The worst motive to train, in Jacqueline’s opinion, is to attempt to proceed to fulfill a cultural idea of youthful magnificence. I do know that will be true in my case. I could also be pretty match and trim, however I’m nonetheless wrinkled!

I might point out one thing else essential about train and getting older. We can not stop age-related decline in efficiency. People who get pleasure from competitors or simply reaching private bests can get discouraged when of their 40s or 50s they notice their finest performances are prior to now and it’s “all downhill” from right here. One treatment is to cease worrying about achievement and simply benefit from the course of. Another is to get into age-group competitors. This can flip getting older on its head! If you’re doing aggressive occasions like operating, triathlon, or biking time-trialing, it may possibly make you stay up for landmark birthdays. I’ll flip 70 on January twelfth, and I’m enthusiastic about the place I’ll be on Strava biking leaderboards within the 70-75 age group as an alternative of 65-69! But I have to admit I additionally care lots much less about efficiency and benefit from the “meditation in motion” side greater than I used to.