In the Dark (Running)

I was blogging about my trail running habit multiple times. Overall running into this habit has been life changing for me. Despite years passing by, I continue to feel good, and in some aspects even better. Clearly being physically fit helps maintaining overall emotional balance a lot. And being able to swiftly run up a hill without sweating and gasping too much can be rewarding.

Also as my friends of course know, I have been on a fairly busy business travel schedule. Daily runs are good and difficult in this context. Good, as they clearly contribute to being able to successfully combat jet lag and sometimes many strenuous hours on an airplane seat. Although still I do appreciate the magic of seating in an armchair, listening to (noise-canceled) music and sipping wine cruising close to the speed of sound at 40000 ft. Many people have just forgotten how incredible this is.

Daily runs while maintaining an active business schedule also mean running in the dark for big part of the year. Office or other business meetings typically start at 9am (and often earlier) and that means to have 90 minutes run and the usual morning routine I often need to get up at 4.30. The first minutes are often tough but then when I go out, there comes another magical moment: a city which has been sleeping and slowly starts waking up or dark and silent woods (depending on where I am).

In cities there is really no real darkness, as we are blessed with artificial light. In the woods it is an entirely different story. In both cases at 4am it is silent. In both cases it is just me and the surroundings. Filled with magic. I must say I've got quite addicted to these early morning runs. Living in the woods sometimes I go on the trail during daytime (mostly on weekends) but then there are other people on the way and the ambient noise is much higher - the magic is gone.

Dark early mornings are almost like an another world. Obviously not many offer themselves the opportunity to explore that world. But it may be something worth trying - if you dare :)