Thursday, April 7, 2016

Running and Spirituality



When the late great running philosopher George Sheehan, M.D., gave motivational talks to runners, he often quoted the wife of a running convert: "My husband used to be a Methodist. Now he's a runner." Running may not be a religion, but as Dr. Sheehan would go on to say, "It's a retreat, a place to commune with God and yourself, a place for psychological and spiritual renewal."

Indeed, many runners consider the roads and trails as places of worship, where they reflect, dream, and give thanks. After all, a church, synagogue, or mosque isn't defined by its four walls. Rather, it's a place where people of shared beliefs gather to connect with themselves and those around them and show their gratitude for the blessings in their lives--sometimes even a PR.


"The spiritual benefits available in running--appreciating nature, developing a communion with others, seeing how things in the universe connect, meditating--can quiet the mind, facilitate introspection, and help you become more virtuous and whole," says Warren A. Kay, assistant track and cross-country coach, associate professor and chair of the religious and theological studies department at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. As Kay and other running theologians have found, you can become a more relaxed, satisfied runner with spiritual awareness--no matter your religious beliefs (or lack thereof).

Spirituality 101

It's been well documented that a spiritual outlook can positively impact your overall health. Numerous studies have found that people with spiritual ties deal with stress better, recover from illness faster, and ultimately, live longer lives.

Although the specific link between spirituality and athletic performance has yet to be scientifically explored, Kay says he sees anecdotal evidence for it in his class, The Spirituality of Running. Kay first offered the three-credit course last fall. There was so much interest he had to turn students away. To enroll, students must be avid runners. Some are on the track or cross-country squads; others run in other sports or on their own. Kay's students, 25 in all, come from many religious backgrounds. During the semester, they discuss the historical role religion has played in sports, analyze spirituality in running literature and film, and write personal essays about spiritual experiences they've had while running.

Kay, 53, a former 1:54 college half-miler who runs 30 miles a week, hopes his lessons help students look beyond the performance aspects of the sport and use their runs to discover more about themselves and the world around them.

Jacqueline Fazioli, 21, says Kay's class helped her gain strength from her teammates. "Cross-country is not an easy sport," she says. "But it can be made easier by the people around you. Making that connection is a spiritual thing."

Another of Kay's students, Adam Johnson, 22, said the ideas he learned in class helped him cope when he couldn't run. "When I had an injury, I was able to put things in perspective. It changed the kind of runner I am. I now run as an expression of myself rather than for competition."

That doesn't mean that spirituality and competitiveness can't coexist. Scott Jurek, who won the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon for the second time in July, credits his meditative approach to running for his racing success. "When I go running I call it 'turning off the noise,'" says Jurek, 31, of Seattle. "Some people solve problems or listen to music. I try to focus on my body and enjoy my surroundings. This helps me in races. I'm able to go on autopilot and push through difficult moments. People will ask, 'How did you do that?' and there's really no explanation; it's spiritual."

What Jurek describes might sound familiar. This heightened state of consciousness is as much "Zen running" or "getting in the zone" as it is spiritual. The concepts and payoffs are the same: Running "in the moment" with a greater sense of awareness and appreciation can make you a stronger, more confident runner and perhaps a more content individual, in general.

Former cross-country champion and Olympian Doris Brown Heritage says the spiritual quality of her runs enhances her overall quality of life. "I run every morning with an attitude of worship and thankfulness as nature unfolds, says Heritage, 64, a track and cross-country coach at Seattle Pacific University. "There are things outside ourselves that can feed our souls."

To develop your own spiritual connection with running, the Rev. Roger D. Joslin, an Episcopal minister in Bentonville, Arkansas, and author of Running the Spiritual Path, says to concentrate on your breathing (for more tips, see "Higher Powers,") "Listen to the sound of your feet, feel the shift of the wind--but more than anything, listen to your breath," says the Rev. Joslin, 55, who has run three marathons. Focusing on your breathing enables you to still the mind and become aware of things--including the simple pleasure of running. "When running is joyful and calms you and frees you to be creative and think of the positive side of life," says Heritage, "then it's truly worthwhile."

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