What do you do while running? (Read 1927 times)

I let my mind go where it wants. This could include:

• observing nature and whatever else is around me.
• watching the sun rise.
• thinking through problems.
• planning meals or the day's activities.
• praying.
• worrying about getting re-injured.
• keeping an eye on my pace.
• planning where I would run to if I was attacked.
• thinking about the other runners I see (not so many others around these days -- it's too cold and dark when I run).
• thinking about work stuff.
• deciding on Christmas gifts.

Pretty much the same thing, except no praying.

Think about anything to do with anything. 

• What would I do if a serial killer jumped out of a bush and started chasing me?
• Am I fast enough to outrun him?
• Or we he catch me because I'm already tired?
• Why would a serial killer prey on runners? They're the most likely to get away?
• That, and ex-soldiers.
• Why are squirrels so stupid? Maybe there's something in acorns that makes them reckless.
• etc.
• etc.

Edit: Almost forgot, when it's really cold (as far as coastal NC goes), I like to blow snot rockets. 

Let my mind wander.  Talk with God.  Look for where I'm going to launch myself if that driver isn't paying attention.  Wish I could collect the cans on the side of the road; I could buy my next pair of shoes with the change.  Look for the animal that I thought made a sound behind that bush.    Enjoy that I'm not having to do anything else right now.  And so on.  

Much of what I do has already been mentioned (daydream, write, work through problems). I also play the Alphabet Game--look around until I find something that begins with each letter of the alphabet, consecutively. Can't count something that you saw before you got to that letter--if you see a quail when you're still back on K, you can't save it up until you get to Q. 2 points for every item if you haven't used it in a recent game, 1 point if you have, X isn't used so max 50 points per game.

I like to play it when I'm running in an unfamiliar place--it makes me look around and notice things instead of zoning out and possibly getting lost. 

Depends on the day - sometimes every thought is about my running, assessing how I feel, my pace, how far I have still to go, etc, etc.  Those are the not so good days.  On good days, I think about anything and everything, and nothing at all, and just enjoy forward movement.  

Once I get into the groove of the run, I think about karate (both the personal aspect and the work aspect), I plan meals, I think about races, training, new running shoes.  I think about weather, my kids, my husband, my mom, my dogs.  I think about my new job, clothing, toads.  I think about Duluth, the seasons, vacation.  My thoughts are always random -- there is never a decent segue from one thought to the next.  And more often than not, when I get home and try to remember what I reflected on I cannot remember.  

During my runs, I am always taking note of my surroundings....puddles, leaves, sticks, litter, animal sounds, vehicle sounds, smells, other people who are walking, running, biking... 

Running is a lot of work....mentally as well as physically!