Getting to the start line
How do you get to the start line of a long distance race? Or to put the question more bluntly, why on earth would you want to run long distances especially as even a cursory read of guides to ultra-running reveals that they talk a lot about all sorts of types of pain?
I am not a natural runner. At school I liked sprints but 400m was a long distance! I have though always enjoyed sport and it was as my last few sporting activities, squash and finally cricket, fell away that I realised I wanted and needed to keep active. So I downloaded a Couch to 5K app and started running – this must have been before COVID.
Having achieved the goal of running 5K and being able to run for 30 minutes without stopping, and being of a slightly competitive disposition I thought I would see if I could ultimately run 10K. And there I might have left it had it not been for an insight on a not particularly long run when I felt I was going to stop and give up.
At that moment I realised that there was a strong connection between running and prayer. Many of the thoughts that were bouncing around my head were those that affect the spiritual life. There were the positive sides of focus, concentration on the present and the reality of what is experienced now and there were the negative aspects like distraction, worries about things in the future or the past, false comparisons (“I should be better at this”). Running is at least as much in the mind as it is an activity of the body.
So, I resolved to take my prayer life into my running. It could be a well-remembered prayer or Bible verse or even just one word in sync with breathing and the cadence of my running.
The effect for me was great, changing my outlook and intention in running. I cannot say that that meant running suddenly became a doddle and pain free. It is still hard but it has different meaning and so a different feeling because it is part of my relationship with God. Going a particular distance becomes less important. Instead each moment is important. But if each moment is important why not keep running if you can?
Next time…”Thinking of Everything”
— The Rev’d Philip Davison
Support our Rector on his arduous 50 km run for the St Mary-at-Finchley “Give me Shelter!” Church and Churchyard Project DONATE NOW
On 5 October 2024 the Rector of St Mary-at-Finchley, the Revd Philip Davison, will be running the challenging Epping Forest 50K Ultra Marathon to raise funds for the St Mary-at-Finchley “Give me Shelter!” Church and Churchyard Project.
This difficult and demanding run is from Wanstead Flats up to Bell Common and back again. It is hilly and potentially muddy. It is also definitely the furthest Philip has ever run!
Please give generously!