If you’ve ever run a marathon, you know it’s quite a distance to cover on foot—a little over 26 miles. But imagine being an endurance runner, or “ultra runner” as they are sometimes known, who races 100 miles or more! Some of the most inspiring marathon runners and ultra runners have developed a unique perspective on running which has been key to their endurance and success. Rather than thinking about how far in a race they have left to go, or about the positions of other runners either ahead or behind them, they simply focus on their great joy of running. They have engendered in themselves a deep love of the uncomplicated act of taking strides.
That may sound pretty straightforward, perhaps even simplistic, yet it’s easier said than done. An ultra runner may be running for six or seven hours straight and still feel great. The thoughts are clear, and the focus is on the pleasure that every step brings. Then, say, around mile 60, maybe he or she gets distracted and begins thinking about some other racer’s speed. At this point, often the fun is gone and fatigue begins to dominate. The moment an ultra runner changes his or her focus from a love of running to a desire simply to cross the finish line, exhaustion can set in. If the goal isn’t the act of running but the end of running, then no matter how long or short the distance they’ve run, they’re sure to be worn out.
There are probably a number of lessons that can be learned from all this—lessons that no doubt apply not just to running but also to daily life. One particular aspect worth considering is related to how people might perceive themselves as spiritual creations. Rather than thinking about how far there is left to go toward somehow becoming spiritual, instead one’s focus can simply be on the great joy of already being entirely spiritual. Like the ultra runner, you can engender in yourself a deep love of the uncomplicated fact of spiritual and immortal being.
