I like to run. It’s the one form of exercise that I consistently return to after falling off the taking-care-of-my-health wagon for the umpteenth time. I do not run fast. I do not take part in races (anymore) and my maximum distance is 10km. But I do really like to run.
A couple of days ago, as I was plodding along in kilometre six of a ten kilometre trail, it suddenly occurred to me that running is a lot like writing or making art. It’s a long game. It’s something you have to work at consistently if you want to see any progress. Conversely, you can also let go of it for a little while (for example when it’s too cold outside) and come back to it when you’re ready, and each time you do, you realise you’re not starting from scratch, but you already have the muscle memory and technique to slip back in where you left off. You might have to shake off a bit of rust (fear), but once you settle back into the rhythm of your familiar stride, it doesn’t take very long to find the flow again.
Another thing that came to me as I was pounding along an overgrown part of the trail was that as I was running, I was also writing. This blog post was writing itself as I navigated potholes and called out warnings to the wild rabbits sunbathing on the path ahead of me (I don’t like to scare the poor mites so I usually give them a friendly ‘Heyo, human approaching’ a good hundred yards away). Not only that, but other projects I am working on popped into the playlist in my head and I found that by the time I got home, I had solved a couple of plot issues, thought up a supporting character’s arc, and figured out the theme for a short story that has had me stumped. All this for the price of an hour and a quarter and a bucket of sweat. A sweet deal if you ask me!
I also had a huge boost of creative energy to work with when I got home, and spent the next couple of days in the joyful throes of a painting and drawing binge that has filled half a dozen pages in my art journal and added some fun new ideas to my play-with -this list.
Of course, this could also be the result of the time of year. Spring has finally sprung and May is a special month for me.
Since 2021, I have taken part in the 50k in May challenge to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research. I lost my grandfather to MS before I was even able to meet him, and had my own scare with a possible diagnosis years ago. It is a terrible disease and I thank my stars that it skipped me. So, every year I run 100km in May to raise money for the MS Research Fund, a global intitiative that is working to eradicate MS from the world. I am currently at 94km and expect to complete the last kilometres tomorrow. There are still two days left to support me in this, so if you enjoyed this post and have anything to spare, consider donating through the link below.
https://www.themay50k.nl/fundraisers/jodiemann/the-may-50k-2023
Thanks for reading and, until the next time, happy creating!
Now that’s what I call multi-tasking, Jo. It really is. I know it’s technically not supposed to be possible, but if you are being so creative while running, you’re definitely doing two things simultaneously. And I know I haven’t done so yet, but I will be donating to your run!