Most Saturday's I go on an 8 mile woods run with a couple of special friends...
Almost every Saturday we do the same path...
0.75 mile of "traily" downhill
2.5 mile stretch along the river
0.75 mile uphill to the tree where we stop and stretch for a moment, and turn around...
And, go back...
It is the "PERFECT" amount of pain...
It HURTS... but it's a KNOWN level of pain... and, importantly, I know it's a pain that I can tolerate, survive, and feel good about when its over.
Also, because it's the same course, I can calibrate myself and assess how I am doing... how is the "known" pain relative to other days on the same course.
Bottom line - it's SAFE pain.
I am always surprised by how DIFFERENTLY I feel when someone suggests we run a different path...
I have another good friend who picks me up and we always try a different run... a run of "UNKNOWN" pain...
Often those runs are less far and less difficult - but the fact that I don't know what to expect creates real "physical" anxiety for me. It comes from fear, I believe. From the fear of not knowing if I will be able to "finish" it or "keep up", adequately.
Who cares, really? If I have to walk or if I fall behind?
Why does my mind and body react so differently to an unknown course?
Yesterday, as we ran, I thought to myself, most people we mention this run to, get wide eyes and say, "Wow, that's far..."... "I couldn't do that."... "You guys are crazy" (answer to a lot of things I say... "I like running on the road"...
Ultimately, few people try it.
I know that when I feel FITTER, I welcome new courses very differently... when I get to the point where I trust my body and my strength to be able to overcome... I like the different challenge.
So... I thought to myself...
Where else in my life - do I default to "KNOWN PAIN"... where else do I steer away from new paths... because of fear... (even if it is not acknowledged as such?)...
Does the desire for "PERFECT PAIN" serve us well, or hold us back?
Sure, when you stay on the same path, you notice the trees that have fallen, you notice the change of season, and, most importantly, you experience a familiar kind of joy... one that is generally free of "stress" or "anxiety" because of its familiarity...
But, when you take a new path.. try a new distance... you see NEW things... you learn about your body, about your conditioning... you run across new people... and there is a different type of joy and pride that you feel...
There is NOTHING wrong with our run... nor with enjoying the familiarity with it.., it is a GREAT RUN... It is the "perfect pain"...
And, there is NOTHING wrong with trying new ones...
I like that I can appreciate both.
I aspire to have the strength, stamina and confidence to welcome all new courses... in running, in relationships, in professional challenges, in LIFE...
I do - have that confidence in many areas of my life... and I do - lack that confidence in many other areas...
The thing about me - I still run the new paths... I just don't SEEK them enough.
I trust my body, my mind - to resolve new courses and enjoy the feeling once I have survived them...
But, I am aware of the difference... and I encourage you to be as well...
Enjoy the PERFECT PAIN of your known strength... and life...
And, find the people, the catalysts, the moments to RUN NEW TRAILS... to train that stress... to feel that adrenaline... to build your confidence...
Celebrate the JOY in the familiar - that makes us stronger and helps us know exactly where we are...
and also, STEP into the JOY of discovery, of exploration, of NEW courses that tap into your sense of wonderment, fear and thrill...
You are strong enough to navigate the pain, and smart enough to consider the consequences...
There is a fine line between pleasure and pain... possibly no line at all... kind-a-kinky ;-)
Life sometimes just...
HURTS SO GOOD!
in harmony,
Nestor