[at-l] why aren't hikers like this?

[morganpaulw@xxxxxxxxxxx (Paul Morgan)]

Hey Mags,

Read anything by Dr. George Sheehan (www.georgesheehan.com) but especially
"Running & Being".  Until he died a decade ago he had a column in Runners
World magazine about the philosophy of running.  Even though he's talking
about running his philosophy also applies to hiking.

For me running (and now hiking) isn't about thinking but about not thinking.
  No mulling on the usual stuff of life and problems.  Just a total zen
meditation focus on the senses and the now.

Heading out the door for a run around Memorial Park,
Too Tall Paul

>Interesting post there Mr. Sloe Toe.
>
>As this hiker trash is getting more into running
>starting to see the other side of things, if you will.
>
>I am ALMOST back to my PCT shape (yaaaay!). Lost 6-8
>lbs since Jan 1st. The legs are getting back to the
>muscular shape they were in and the clothes seem a bit
>looser. The last of Mom's home cooking is finally
>going away. :-)
>
>
>I am also, much to my chagrin, enjoying running.
>
>Last night it was lightly snowing out. What did I do?
>Went on my usual night run.  Enjoying running for some
>of the same reasons why I enjoy hiking. There is no
>one but me to push myself, it is simple to do in terms
>of equipment, makes me feel a lot less stressed out, I
>feel better after doing it.
>
>I can tell I am enjoying running because my mind
>wanders and can do some thinking. Notice the softly
>falling snow, the foothills with clouds on the very
>top, and the soft sound as my feet hit the snow.
>
>So will the backpack be hung up and traded in for a
>running jersey? Probably not. But I am starting to see
>why people enjoy running.  I am even entertaining the
>thought or running a marathon in September. :-)

_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus