I don’t know when my running took on the more yogic approach but, somewhere along the line, it did. On one hand, I’d love for my running to return to a more serious level. On the other, I enjoy the carefree runs where I stop whenever I want to smell the roses or take in a view without hesitation.
Of course my tendencies to greet everyone I pass with a cheery “hello” lives on. What I find interesting is the lack of friendliness that comes back from the more serious runners. It’s as if they can see that I am no longer as serious about my training as before; their faces take on a more serious demeanor and they run past with indifference.
Odd enough, and unlike before, I don’t get discouraged or insulted; I just notice it. It’s pretty cool to discover that the approach of leaving my ego at the door, which I’ve come to know in my yoga practice, can be applied on the trails as well. It’s new and different, but it works.
Today, anyway…
It’s a beautiful thing, and although those serious runners keep their poker face, something tells me your greeting and contagious smile lights them up inside!
I flipped that switch too and noticed the same thing about the more serious runners. I hope I wasn’t that unfriendly when I was in a more competitive frame of mind.