Coming Home to Yourself: The Art of Running Your Own Race
Your own breath, your own body, your own journey.
Keep to your own path. Photos from author’s collection except where noted.
In this issue:
✨ Embody Homecoming
🖋 Journal prompt
🧘♀️ Yoga Nidra - drop inward
🌟 Yoga Journal & Services
🔥 Inspiring reads
🍲 From the Kitchen - Fueling the Miles
🏃♀️ What’s next: Keep Moving Forward
Embody Homecoming:
Buck Moon:
Growth and Surrender.
Stay in your lane.
Trust the Process.
I look out my window, air conditioning blows my hair. Other runners stride by, embrace the heat in the middle of the day. I want to run with the sun on my face, but I can't. Sensitivities take over and sap all my energy. In Ayurveda doshas, I'm a Pitta by nature (fire). Recommendations in summer, which is Pitta season, includes less strenuous, cooler activities. My desire is to be outside and push through, get tough. My body rebels with heat exhaustion, fully depleted and/or a rosacea breakout. So, I stop myself from comparing and work with what I have. I run at dawn and compliment my training with swims. Adjusting makes me a better athlete. In summary, I compare but then resolve to adjust and continue to work on my goal, my way.
Be in awe of the athleticism of another.
Study their accomplishment.
Ask questions.
Learn from others.
Celebrate others.
Run your pace.
Run your own race.
Stay in your lane.
Love where you are.
Work on your desire.
Be the Pro.
You do you.
Saturday’s 7-mile run began early with 100% humidity. I was drenched in sweat by mile two. I adjusted by adding walk breaks, but then the walk breaks became more numerous. Mile 5, my misery was taking over my thoughts, then a bird craps on me. A big one hit my head. Thankfully, I was wearing a cap. A splat on my hat and down my shirt. I took the message – Do you think this run is hard? How about getting pooped on? After a moment, I looked for the positive it didn’t hit my hands or my face so I can finish two more miles. My thoughts changed from misery to making notes to improve my training. Make swim days a priority to improve my cardio. Track my macros to keep my stamina up. Target weightlifting to build glutes and quads for powerful legs.
I’m still untangling my start up in marathon training. Saturday’s 7 miler was an eye-opening workout. I can take responsibility for this training. Working, adjusting and showing up every day. Every day even on rest days. Yoga, weightlifting, Yoga Nidra to rest my brain, good food. Buckle up we’re in for a long ride. Growth comes after the suffering.
Journal prompt:
Pen to page: Envy or jealousy emotions arise and beg questions. What do I yearn for? What do I want?
What I’m teaching Yoga class:
Yoga Nidra - Ni means nothingness; dra means bring forward. Yogic sleep that brings deep relaxation.
Come into a restful comfortable position. Use pillows, blankets, soft cloth to cover your eyes or a favorite chair to create a Yoga Nidra nest. The ideal setting includes quiet, still, dark and warm for this practice.
Yoga Nidra is a guided restful meditation. Rest, listen and relax. Notice the sensations as your body relaxes.
My experience with this practice is that it brings my stress levels down, relaxes my body and mind. I have practiced it as a wind down before sleep for a more restful night. Also, I use a short practice occasionally in the afternoon for a reset. A Yoga Nidra practice refreshes me better than a nap.
12 minute free Yoga Nidra. YouTube Link here.
Notice support areas, head, neck, back legs with arms out to the side relaxing hands. Main point is fully supported and comfortable.
How can I support you in your athletic adventures…
Monday Yoga Class on Zoom - start the week off moving and recovering from weekend adventures. Monday’s 7:30am CT. Click this link or Message me for details.
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Yoga Journal for Runners
This yoga journal is for endurance athletes designed to guide you through every stage of a 16-week endurance training cycle, with a focus on integrating yoga to enhance your physical and mental performance.
This journal is your companion through each step of the journey—both on and off the mat. Find it on Amazon here.
What I’m enjoying right now:.
Inspiring Newsletters:
Windshield Wiper Pose a friendly pose for runners for internal and external hip rotation. Check out
newsletters and poems to deepen your awareness in yoga poses. A Poem for Windshield Wiper Pose.
Runners check out
on Substack for a wealth of information, inspiration and connecting with other runners. Marathon Training Begins newsletter link.
FROM THE KITCHEN:
Track macros - Proteins for stamina; Carbs for engergy; Fats for organ protection.
Saturday’s run reminded me to fuel all week for the long run. I know what it feels like to run properly fueled and not. Saturday a NOT. All week, my macros were off balance and low on protein.
This week, tracking on My Fitness Pal restarts. I can’t depend on keeping track in my head. I need the guide and accountability.
A couple ways to get in extra protein:
Smoothies with protein powder, frozen fruit, frozen edamame beans and water or milk.
Make ice cream from protein powders, bananas, other fruits and Greek yogurt or milk of choice.
Simple smoothie of frozen berries, frozen banana, protein powder and soy milk.
What’s next…
Hotter N’ Hell 9 mile trail run next week. It will live up to it’s name, no doubt. A trudge up to the falls featured in the park then shuffle down and around the falls. Next, climb further and longer before finally enjoying the long downhill. Finish up on rolling hills. To manage the heat I will use ice in my drinks, load up on fluids at the aid stations and power hike over half the course.
What is your hot summer race this year? How do you manage the heat?
I would love to see your plans in the comments below.
Keep moving forward shining your light on and off the mat.
This is more than a newsletter, it’s a call to live fully, creatively, and actively, no matter your age.
Thanks for being a part of the community. I can’t wait to share the road ahead with you.
Namaste’
Jill
This reminds me that even though I am not a runner, that I do love to swim and haven't done so this summer. Thanks for that!
I love what you say---"live fully, creatively, and actively, no matter your age."