When training for a race many endurance athletes become really focused and literally stop seeing the forest for trees.
I at least was one of those. Once having reached the grimly determined phase a trail would be nothing more than an outdoor route which had to be finished within a certain amount of time.
More accomplished runners in the group would have to remind me to take my eyes of the ground once in a while and just enjoy the view.
Although not training for any races this year I still get the itch to hit the trail when the sun is out . This time I though I wanted to incorporate 3 factors I always try to uphold during yoga. Actually be aware of oneself and one's surroundings, be with ease coupled with playfulness. Indeed being a kid again, dashing off, lifting those arms and yelling: "Wheeeeeeee!". Go all out and enjoy it.
This notion does not come from anywhere. Just as I believe that running barefoot (or with minimalist shoes) and eating Paleo is the way we have evolved to thrive, there should logically be an ideal, a healthy way for us to move. I was not able to pin it down until I stumbled over an article in The Guardian earlier this year.
It introduced the concept of Movnat (obviously standing for move naturally):
"Erwan Le Corre is the founder of MovNat, a system developed to transform our relationship with exercise by prioritising natural and efficient movement over superficial goals like burning calories. If, so the theory goes, we start running, climbing, jumping, crawling and balancing like the animal species nature intended, then weight loss and muscle tone will follow naturally, along with a general sense of health and wellbeing."
I at least was one of those. Once having reached the grimly determined phase a trail would be nothing more than an outdoor route which had to be finished within a certain amount of time.
More accomplished runners in the group would have to remind me to take my eyes of the ground once in a while and just enjoy the view.
Although not training for any races this year I still get the itch to hit the trail when the sun is out . This time I though I wanted to incorporate 3 factors I always try to uphold during yoga. Actually be aware of oneself and one's surroundings, be with ease coupled with playfulness. Indeed being a kid again, dashing off, lifting those arms and yelling: "Wheeeeeeee!". Go all out and enjoy it.
This notion does not come from anywhere. Just as I believe that running barefoot (or with minimalist shoes) and eating Paleo is the way we have evolved to thrive, there should logically be an ideal, a healthy way for us to move. I was not able to pin it down until I stumbled over an article in The Guardian earlier this year.
It introduced the concept of Movnat (obviously standing for move naturally):
"Erwan Le Corre is the founder of MovNat, a system developed to transform our relationship with exercise by prioritising natural and efficient movement over superficial goals like burning calories. If, so the theory goes, we start running, climbing, jumping, crawling and balancing like the animal species nature intended, then weight loss and muscle tone will follow naturally, along with a general sense of health and wellbeing."
Running... yeah... but climbing, jumping, crawling? The last time I did all four together was in my single digits age-wise. I would have dismissed it as trendy fitness craze if it wasn't for the Vibram FiveFinger barefoot running training camp my fellow blogger, a triathlete nicknamed Jogger Joel helped to organize in October 2011. During that training session Vibram's running trainer, Corrado Giambalvo, let us crawl and jump for several rounds first before we even got to the running. I was not used to those movements at that time. Most of my strength was in my legs, little in my upper body and remaining core. It was uncomfortable and exhausting and I finally wanted to get to the running bit.
A video of Le Corre doing all those movements with ease made me realize what of an imbalanced athlete I have become as a runner. Moving with such fluidity through that range of motion and that agile strength required an allrounder physique, a body challenged on multiple levels. So I went out there to find my inner wild 5 year old or whatever age you still carelessly tumble around with ease.
A video of Le Corre doing all those movements with ease made me realize what of an imbalanced athlete I have become as a runner. Moving with such fluidity through that range of motion and that agile strength required an allrounder physique, a body challenged on multiple levels. So I went out there to find my inner wild 5 year old or whatever age you still carelessly tumble around with ease.
And boy, did I have a field day. The same trail which I would rush through within 35 minutes and which started to bore me turned into Disneyland without the queuing and annoying songs. But I also felt fragile as moving like this felt unfamiliar to me. We were taught that at a certain age we had to play it safe, buy stabilizing cushioned shoes, hold the handrail and don't walk. I was required to think a bit outside of the box to actually get a bit of scamper time. 'Oh a picnic table. What to do?" What comes natural to kids like jumping on it or crawling underneath it I had to rediscover.
Once you pass a certain threshold (and gotten used to the disconcerting looks from other hikers) being playful and being with ease becomes easier. Mind and body get a whole new set of possibilities. Quite liberating and an awesome and fun workout. A bit like parkour only greener and not so urban. When have we actually started giving all that away? Beats me. But I know for sure that I will keep my little 5 year old hoyden closer to the surface now.
It's play time.
Once you pass a certain threshold (and gotten used to the disconcerting looks from other hikers) being playful and being with ease becomes easier. Mind and body get a whole new set of possibilities. Quite liberating and an awesome and fun workout. A bit like parkour only greener and not so urban. When have we actually started giving all that away? Beats me. But I know for sure that I will keep my little 5 year old hoyden closer to the surface now.
It's play time.
