“Rule 1.44 One day a week, run naked

….One day a week–maybe an easy day–leave your running watch at home, head out the door, and just…run.  While you’re at it, leave your GPS at home too, and your heart rate monitor, cell phone, MP3 player, and whatever other modern gizmo you normally carry on a run.

You’ll be amazed at how liberating it can be.” Steve Remy

Runners, as your race approaches “run naked” on your short easy runs.  Use it as a time to listen to your breath.  Listen the cars around you, people talking, the birds chirping, and the wind blowing.   Feel your body…Feel your ankles, knees, hips, and core.  Relax your shoulders.  Think about the aches you may be feeling.  Focus on breathing into those aches and feel it lessen.  Embrace the strength in your stride.  Play around with opening your stride on slight downhills or flat.  Play around with shortening your stride and picking up your cadence on hills.

People who run without music often complain about getting bored.  How can you get bored with all the stimulus going on in your body as you run?  One day a week listen to your body.  Think of it as homework.  How can you possibly run your best race if you haven’t paid attention to how your body reacts to the environment around you….and if you are like me and like to take pictures, remember there will be something pretty when you return–so leave that phone!  (see above 🙂 )