TORONTO April 7th 2015. Digital Champion Paul Silva started running to get his body moving in a meaningful way. He knew that running would touch all parts of the mind-body-spirit connection, and it hasn’t failed to do that for him yet. Paul’s favourite distance to run is the 10K, but his most memorable running accomplishment was completing his first marathon last October at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. It was much more difficult, physically and mentally, than he had expected, but he persevered and that’s what made it so memorable. Connect with Paul on Twitter and on his blog.
Running as Moving Meditation: The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection. By Paul Silva
I never wanted to run.
For 40+ years, I was content to not strap on shoes at ungodly hours and run distances that I would normally cover with my car. Even though my dad was a runner, I wasn’t interested. He ran for decades. When I was a child, he would come home all sweaty from an afternoon run, and chased my brother and I to hug us and cover us in his sweat, all of us laughing while getting grossed out. He didn’t race marathons, but he did take part in some 5K and 10K races now and then. In the end, he ran because it was what he did. It was important to him.
Running came to me as a sort of calling one morning. I don’t know why I decided that morning I would try running, but it was monumental for me. Because for a good chunk of those 40+ years, the only running I did was to the bottle. Getting out of my own head and escaping the world were factors in driving me to drink. So needless to say, after about 2 ½ years of sobriety, I was shocked and surprised that something pushed me to the one thing I thought I would never do – lace up and tackle the pavement.
I started with the Couch to 5K program in 2013 and before I knew it, I was running a half-marathon eight months later. A full marathon five months after that. My passion and love for running gripped me like nothing ever did before. Running gave me something that fulfilled me in so many ways . It spoke to me on all levels – mind, body and spirit. And that is very important for me. I strongly believe in the mind-body-spirit connection. Like three legs on a stool, when one of those things is out of whack, I am not on solid footing. I am a bit askew. And being solid is what brings me contentment. And joy. And keeps my recovery strong.
When I crave running, it’s also a craving to connect. When my feet touch the ground, I am also touching something greater than myself, spiritually. My mind is free to wander, or to focus, or to just settle. My body gets the nourishment it needs in being free, in working hard, in feeling growing pains. And my soul gets the joy of chasing dreams, of being thankful, of being relieved of the weariness of material-based living. And when I run, all three of these things are in sync. Even on the bad runs, I get something out of it. Even when my body feels broken, or when my mind tells me I can’t do it, I get the sense of accomplishment. I feel a sense of ease and comfort with the world and myself.
Racing with others also brings me a sense of community that I never had. The friendships that I have formed with other runners in such a short time have been one of the unexpected benefits of running. I am always amazed at the generosity and the support the community offers. Being in a corral, waiting to start the race, always brings both a buzz and a sense of serenity. Everyone has their reasons for running and yet we all stand shoulder to shoulder in the same place.
I understand why my dad ran now. I understand the peace of mind, the pride of accomplishment, the exhale of negativity and the inhale of joy. Running is my moving meditation, and as I move through this journey, I understand just how it impacts my mind-body-spirit connection. When I don’t run, I feel it. Not just my body, but in how I interact with the world and myself. I feel it deep within. But I run, and that’s what I do. It brings the world into focus, one kilometer at a time.
I look forward in seeing everyone at the Toronto Yonge Street 10K. I know I will see some familiar faces, meet some new ones and cross the finish line with a smile. And hopefully my two boys will be there, so I can grab them and cover them with my own sweat. And laugh while doing so.
