That is the title of a e-book by Dr. Jacqueline Simon Gunn, who’s each an avid lifetime long-distance runner and a medical psychologist. She shares reflections on what working means to her, each bodily and mentally. One attention-grabbing perception I picked up was the psychological idea of “existential homelessness”, which suggests we really feel we’re not fairly at house in our lives, or one thing essential is lacking. Jacqueline says she typically feels this manner, however at all times feels utterly “at house” when working. I additionally used to really feel that manner, and endurance train crammed within the gap for me. Now meditation additionally contributes to creating me really feel at house just about on a regular basis.

Dr. Gunn additionally emphasizes that working will not be for everybody and that we will get the identical advantages she describes from different actions like strolling, biking, and swimming. That has been crucial for me. I used to be a working fanatic for greater than 20 years earlier than arthritis took it away from me, however now get related “excessive” and health outcomes from strolling, climbing, and biking.

I additionally loved the chapter on working and getting older. Train can delay the onset of age-related bodily decline, however not stop it. Her recommendation is to train for the best causes, akin to bodily, religious, and psychological well-being. The worst motive to train, in Jacqueline’s opinion, is to attempt to proceed to satisfy a cultural idea of youthful magnificence. I do know that may be true in my case. I could also be pretty match and trim, however I’m nonetheless wrinkled!

I might point out one thing else essential about train and getting older. We can’t stop age-related decline in efficiency. Individuals who get pleasure from competitors or simply reaching private bests can get discouraged when of their 40s or 50s they understand their greatest performances are previously and it’s “all downhill” from right here. One treatment is to cease worrying about achievement and simply benefit from the course of. One other is to get into age-group competitors. This could flip getting older on its head! In case you are doing aggressive occasions like working, triathlon, or biking time-trialing, it might make you look ahead to landmark birthdays. I’ll flip 70 on January twelfth, and I’m enthusiastic about the place I’ll be on Strava biking leaderboards within the 70-75 age group as an alternative of 65-69! However I need to admit I additionally care lots much less about efficiency and benefit from the “meditation in movement” side greater than I used to.