participate

I am sharing a run prompt below that captures my process in going on a “run to practice rest” (it’s very simple.)
You can either use my prompt, or feel free to create your own (and share here if you want).

In the spirit of representing different ways of “running to practice rest” (or fill in the blank– running, walking, moving, etc), I am also inviting you to document your restful run and share here. I will compile these representations of “running to practice rest” into a shared … something (probably an imovie). Consider this a collective attempt to represent a new kind of running

instructions

  1. Pick a run route you know well (no decision making involved).

    • By “no decision making involved,” I mean pick a route where you at no point have to ask yourself “right or left?”
      **Note: sometimes the best way to avoid this inevitable question is to simply do an out-and-back.

  2. Go on a ~30min run, at a pace that is comfortable– no effort involved. The kind of run where you forget that your legs are turning over.

    • IF you need help in relaxing into this pace, try running without looking at how fast you are going (ie no watch and / or strava)– go solely based on feel.

    • For me, this is often slower than I expect, or want to admit to myself. That is okay <3 

  3. The only decisions you should have to make on this run are:

    • music or no music? Some people claim that running with no music is somehow better / more “legit” than running with music. I strongly disagree. Running with music can be so… fun? Here is a playlist I’ve been loving.

    • Do you want to stop to take a photo? For a coffee? To stretch in a grassy clearing? To have a sit on a conveniently-placed bench? All of the above?

      • this is a practice in “staying close to the feeling.” Check in with yourself and see what would feel most restful. Treat this as an experiment– an opportunity to explore what rest can feel like. 

  4. Document your restful run.

    • Photo? video? voice memo? poem you wrote mid-stride? All are welcome.

    • Share here if you feel so called. 

  5. Alternatively, leave your own prompt (something that helps you access deep rest) here.

** NOTE that you can participate with any movement practice. Running is my practice of choice, but you can try this with: a walk, a run/walk, a swim, a bike, a scoot, a skate, a hop-skip-anda-jump…. anything really.