Run Alive

Do you feel alive?

What does it take? What does it mean?

There is more than just ordinary routine. More than work, chores, bills, sleep and repeat.

Attitude plays a big role in what we get out of life. Some see family responsibilities as a chore, others as a blessing. Some are passionate in their work, others see it as just a necessity to pay the bills. Not everything goes our way. We spend more time on tasks we rather not. There are amazing joys contrasted with deep sadness and everything in between. This is normal, but sometimes normal is overrated.

It is in this interplay between failure and achievement that something happens

I have an amazing family, friends, a job I enjoy. I have exposure to experiences that have helped me appreciate the good, bad and in between. Many would say I’m lucky. I am, but the harder and smarter I work for it, the luckier I seem to get.

This brings me to why I am writing this post. Being the first post on this blog I wondered where to start. The answer was easy. I should start at why? Why do I do this? Why run? Why blog about it? Why bother?

There is a feeling I chase. I could be satisfied with everything I get out of the rest of my life. I could be. Knowing there is more, means I’m not. So I chase moments. Those moments where all the noise is stripped away. Those moments where it feels impossible. Those moments where time is distorted. Those moments where I am broken down to my core. This is when I feel absolutely alive.

Different paths can lead to these moments. Some achieve it through adrenaline style sports such as sky diving. Others in short and fast races. Some may reach them writing a book. Some by performing life saving surgery. Everyone has certain things that truly resonate with them. For me, I find it in running.

There are some common elements that usually lead to those moments of really, really feeling alive:

• • The goal has to scare me
  • It is at the edge of my capability
  • It induces so much fatigue my body feels like it can’t continue
  • The discomfort and/or pain feels overwhelming

Writing this list makes it sound horrendous. How could any of this be fun? If it involves running it somehow resonates with me. These moments push everything out of my head and I am left with being present only in the moment. It is in this interplay between failure and achievement that something happens. Everything is enhanced. I usually discover I can get more out of myself than I believed. In short, I feel alive.

It carries into everything else. I’ve been surprised it doesn’t mute everything. Instead it enhances all my other experiences. It seems to lift the base standard of life. This is why I do what I do.

Hopefully this blog can help others feel more alive. Follow along with me as I explore running, challenges and pass on what I have learnt.