Finding Joy

On Sunday morning I took a walk with my family on a trail beside the San Francisco Bay. We had arrived the night before after a tiring journey from Brooklyn. As my kids climbed trees and played along the trail, I had the opportunity to observe the runners.

My take-away from those moments of observation was that there was a disturbing lack of joy in that small sample of the running community. In fact, only a young boy, probably ten or eleven years old, looked comfortable and happy as his running self.

I used to hate running and I'm sure that hatred was obvious. Somehow five years ago a switch flipped and I figured out that: 1) I had to love it if I wanted to stick to it; and 2) my mind was capable of convincing my body that I did love it. I am really not entirely clear how all of that transpired. It just was the right time for me to figure it out. Then, about four years ago I started running on occasion with teams, my own and another team closer to my home. What I was most struck by was the boundless energy and genuine joy of these runners. I remember likening them to puppies in my mind. I was in awe of their love of every stride.

Now, because of the example of others and my own mind over matter experience, as I run I am easy and ageless and full of bliss. I have tough runs aplenty, but joy abounds.

And so why the lack of joy in a glorious San Francisco winter day? The sun was out. The air was warm. The bay sparkled. They had no east coast snow. Their bodies could move and breathe, not confined to offices and desk chairs for the next 18 hours.

Here you can substitute yoga or golf or tennis or cycling or (fill in the blank) for running as it best suits you. And you can argue with me but I'm pretty stubborn about this:  I don't think there is anything different about the bodies or abilities of those who find a joyful home in running and those who don't. If your knees and your heart and your other more vulnerable body parts are forgiving enough to allow you to put on the miles in the first place, then I truly believe the rest is all in your mind. And if you want to love running, all you have to do is tell yourself you do and then love it you will.

So go love it. Or find what you do love. Running is good for you only if you can make it a lifetime habit. And if you don't love it, not only will you not run consistently, but where is the fun in that?