Training as Play — Athena Wellness

We are having an unusually wet and cool spring in the northeast this year. It’s mid-May and we have seen more rain than sun with temperatures hovering in the 50s. The occasional sunny 70-degree day feels like a gift. The shift from indoor winter workouts to outdoor spring ones has been slow. I’m longing for the nice weather so I can go outside and play.

For the last three years I was preparing for endurance events and adhering to a strict training schedule. I was either tracking my cycling on the Garmin or checking my Fitbit when running. Monitoring my numbers was not about outcome. These were first time events for me and I was interested in seeing my progress in relation to how I was feeling. In my journal I was able to overlay the workout results with my plan and factor in how I felt physically. It kept me on course and I finished the events feeling strong.

This year, I’m focusing on trail running. I have a lot to learn. I have a few favorite well-traveled trails I feel comfortable on, but am looking to expand my reach. I feel like a kid when I’m running in the woods, something I never got to do as a young child growing up in an asphalt city. The quiet allows me to check-in with myself as I drift into the flow of the run. My only goal is enjoyment. Fitness and training feel like play amongst the trees.

There are also added benefits. Japanese wellness practitioners use the word “shinrin-yoku,” which translates to “taking in the forest atmosphere.” They believe that spending time in natural elements has “calming, rejuvenating and restorative benefits,” including improved mood, reduced stress, increased energy level, improved sleep and an increase in the overall level of happiness. It’s hard to argue. (Source: Shinrin-yoku.org)

Whether I’m training for an event or not, as soon as the days get longer, I schedule one run each week on the trails at daybreak. I leave the technology behind and focus my senses on my surroundings. I watch the sky brighten, listen to the critters stirring, and take deep, long breaths as I move through the woods. When my run is finished, I feel invigorated and ready for the day.

Here's how you can give it a try:

Find a park, reserve or a tree-lined street
Schedule your walk in the early morning or later in the evening when it’s quiet
Leave the technology behind
Connect with your surroundings
Walk without destination, following your instinct of where to go next
Connect with nature through your senses (ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands, feet)
Follow the sensation that brings you the most joy and soak it in
Next time try another activity besides walking: run, hike, write, meditate, do yoga movements, practice deep breathing, picnic, sketch, bird watch or just be.

Journal Reflections: How often do you connect with nature? What are your favorite outdoor activities? How can you augment your training routine once a week so it feels more like play?