Titus 2:7
And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.

My run this past Saturday (well pretty much all my long runs are on this road) was on a long stretch that leads out to Red Rock Canyon. This stretch of road is well traveled by cyclists and a few runners lured by the incredible scenery and the long inclines for training. There’s a lot of of strange things you’ll see dumped on the side of the road (makes you wonder if anybody remembers the old PSA commercial on pollution).

On this particular morning, I happened upon a rubber glove on one of the road markers greeting every person that passed by. At first, I took notice and kept on going since I was almost to my turn around point. On the way back, there it was again, greeting me for the second time in all it’s unglory. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve been known to forget to raise my other fingers on occasion but never this publicly. I kept running downhill for another 100 feet before I crossed back over the road. I couldn’t let that glove stay there in it’s current state. Without having a means to transport the glove to a trash can in the middle of the desert, I decided to change its greeting.

The title of this post has nothing to do with your stride, frame or running style but with the way we should lead our lives. In Roger D. Joslin’s book “Running the Spiritual Path,” he talks about the “Mother Teresa Run.” As you run, offering blessings to everyone you meet whether they acknowledge you or not. It can be as simple as a smile or a wave or a prayer to God to see them safely on their journey. That’s what I was trying to do on my run, take something negative and turn it into something positive.

Grace is something that was gifted to us when Jesus died for our sins. As a follower of Christ, it is my responsibility and honor to lead by His example. Enjoy your run, be one with nature and love one another as He loves us.

I just finished reading John Brant’s book “Duel in the Sun” and if you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. Being fairly new to running, I didn’t know much about Alberto Salazar or Dick Beardsley except for the fact that I knew who they were…or so I thought.

The thing that most caught my attention in this book was not what you would think. Yes, the narrative of the 1982 Boston Marathon was gripping. Yes, Dick Beardsley’s addiction and recovery is an inspirational story everyone must know and learn from. Yes, Alberto Salazar’s health problems and inability to recover from the aforementioned battle evoke sympathy and praise. The thing that really touched and inspired me was reading about Alberto’s faith.

Without ruining a great read, when Alberto Salazar was at his lowest battling depression and his health, he turned to God. It was nothing that happened right away. He didn’t pray one day on a long run and BAM he was cured. In fact, when he rededicated his life to God to the time he finally found a cure for his ailment was nearly 3 years later.

“I believe that God guided me to keep the faith through all the years because the answer – in my case, Prozac – would be coming,” Salazar said. All those years unable to run and he never gave up faith.

We sometimes get inpatient when our prayers go unanswered. We sometimes question our faith and wonder if God is even listening. Remember that we’re His children and he loves us. There’s a plan for each and every one of us and when it’s time, He’ll lead us where He wants us to go.

“Run toward God and know that far in the distance God is running toward you.”
- Roger D. Joslin

Finally finished reading Roger D. Joslin’s book, Running the Spiritual Path. I’m a slow reader. I generally drift off when I’m reading, but with this book, I reread parts because I wanted to – not because I had to. I treated it as a text book. A “guide” on how to better run in a meditative state where I could more easily be open to God and His world around us. While Mr. Joslin lays out great techniques and tips to help you on your journey, I found that when it comes right down to it – you need to do what works for you.

While Mr. Joslin runs most of his runs on trails, I run mostly on crowded streets with cars, bikes and a variety of stimuli that can make it hard to concentrate on your breath and stride. That’s the great part about it though. The harder you work to establish that connection to the Divine, the better the results.

I’ve attained the mediative “blue aura”, I’ve been able to focus on taking in God’s breath and have even held a mantra through the duration of the run. How we get there isn’t the point. It’s the willingness to try that matters. The same goes for my running philosophy. I don’t attain to be the strongest or fastest runner. To me, it’s effort, diligence and love that I have for running that matters most to me.

You may read these posts on Spiritual Running and could care less. That’s OK. But on your next run, I urge you to give it a try. The intent of your meditation does not need to be Spiritual in nature. By clearing your head and working towards quieting your soul – God will reach out to you in His way. Whether it is a strong wind, a gorgeous trail, the warmth of the sun or a smiling stranger – God is there.

“Run toward God and know that far in the distance God is running toward you.”
- Roger D. Joslin

Meditation is a whole new thing for me. I’ve never tried traditional meditation. Maybe it’s my lack of interest or my unwillingness to try but it’s never held much interest for me. Since reading “Running the Spiritual Path” by Roger D. Joslin, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve been practicing mediation for quite a while now – I just didn’t know it.

Have you ever been on a long run and come to realize you don’t recall the last mile or so you just ran? You checked out at some point and something pulled you back to reality. In most cases, your mind gets filled with thousands of trivial thoughts that occupy your time. It’s time to harness this “time” and use it as your “meditation time”. Here are a couple tools that may help you:

Chants and Mantras
These are words or phrases that you can repeat to the rhythm of your breath and/or stride. RMFR used to be my mantra of choice but that has been shuffled to my “Running Gang Sign” and it doesn’t fit my new spiritual path. Remember that you should find a chant or mantra that fits your breathing. Let your words develop naturally to your own running rhythm.

My chant that I started using to focus on my time with God running is “He Has Risen. Saved By Grace.” When I feel my focus wavering and I need to rechannel my thoughts to my breathing or the sound of my stride, I use this chant and it brings me right back to where my thoughts need to be.

Mudras
This is funny because I didn’t know it officially had a name. Mudra is loosely defined as hand movements that accompany dance, music, chants or mantras. I can explain this using my chant. When I say each syllable, I touch a finger with my thumb. I start by touching my index finger on down to my pinky (Risen is touched on the ring finger and then the pinky). For the second part of my chant, I proceed back up my fingers back to my index finger. When I start the chant again, I do it on the other hand.

It takes a little while to get used to it but after doing it for a couple of minutes, it will become second nature. There’s a lot going on but you’ll be amazed at how focused you’ll become.

Good luck and please share your chants, mantras and mudras.

When I first started running it was all about my health and doing something I’d never think I could or would – running a marathon. That was 2006. I lost over 60 pounds and completed the Las Vegas Marathon with little scaring. After that it was all about competing. I needed a race on the calendar to keep me motivated thru the 110 degree summers of Las Vegas. Recently I’ve come to another crossroads. I haven’t felt that same fire in my gut that threw me out door day after day. I was feeling empty and needing more. That has recently changed and I think has changed my life permanently – for the better.

I’ve been thinking for some time that there was something else I could do with running. We’re out there on the roads and trails for hours on end. If you’re like me, thousands of thoughts enter my head on every subject from every angle. You’d think collectively we could have solved the worlds problems by now!!! Most of it is nonsense and I’ve always thought I could use this time for something useful and now I have. I’m using running as time to mediate, clear my head and make up for some lost time with God.

Now, I’m not a fanatic by any means but hear me out. How many times have you thought to yourself that you “don’t have the time pray.” There’s always family, work, television or some other distraction filling our lives 24 hours a day. Running is my solitude, running is my escape but I am alone no longer.

What do you say? How do you say it? There’s no formula, no rules, no ridicule or praise. There’s now a feeling of grace, comfort, belonging and a sense of purpose. Just clear your mind, open your heart and talk. It’s your time.

I’m not a pastor or priest but a runner who’s found the prayerful dimension of running. If you’d like to learn more and be inspired to take a leap of faith, check out the book “Running the Spiritual Path” by Roger D. Joslin. I’m only 4o some pages into the book and I’m hooked. I am not alone – in running or in life.

“Imagine that you are running toward God and know that far in the distance God is running toward you” – Roger D. Joslin