Running with Spirit: Recommended Reading List

Last year, one of our most dedicated and enthusiastic readers, requested for some book suggestions to help in their running journey. I took this request seriously. Too seriously. So seriously that it has taken me just under a year to compile and review a small selection of books.

Part of the challenge lies in the fact is that there are very few books written on using spiritual techniques when running. Usually the author is an expert on or the other; a monk, a priest or a professional athlete. That is one of the reasons why I started this blog as it is evident I am not an expert in spirituality or running. The momentum is picking up and I do hear of publications more frequently than when I began this blog. If I only listed books that were about running spiritually it would be a very short list indeed. But I have another reason, based on my own personal experience, at why I am taking a broad and more encompassing approach.

When I am inspired; I run. When my relationships with those around me are supportive and healthy; I run. When my children are behaving and functional; I run. When my body is properly nourished; I run. When I meditate; I run. When my soul is cared for; I run. I have included all of the books that enable me to achieve these things so I can run with spirit.

I have only suggested books that I have read myself and found immensely useful. I asked many friends whose opinion I value for suggestions. Books also have this knack of finding a reader at the right time. Sometimes I have picked up a book, read it thinking it was complete rubbish, only to revisit it at a later date and found it wonderful. Other times I have been interested in an author and disappointed. Two authors who come to mind are Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra. Yet I know many readers have found their writing wonderful. Maybe one day I will too.

This list is not indicative of the books I have read or what is available. I have purposefully left out any books on meditation because I know that the only way to meditate is to do it. Better off finding a teacher or a course. My hope is that this post will be revised often, growing naturally, as I read more books and hopefully readers share their own book suggestions.

Running

• Running Within  – Jerry Lynch
• Zen and the Art of Running – Larry Shapiro, PhD
• Born to Run - Christopher MacDougall
• Running with the Mind of Meditation - Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
• Eat and Run Scott Jurek
• Running the Spiritual Path - Roger D. Joslin

Mindfulness

• Beginning Mindfulness: Learning the way of Awareness – Andrew Weiss

Spirituality

• The Tibetan Book of the Living and Dying - Sogyal Rinpoche
• Awakening the Buddha Within - Lama Surya Das
• Many Lives, Many Masters - Dr Brian Weiss
• Autobiography of a Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda
• Yoga Nidra - Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Health

• Slim for Life - Jason Vale (Don't let the wanky title put you off.)

Inspiration

• The Alchemist - Paulo Cohello
• Way of the Peaceful Warrior - Dan Millman

Relationships

• 5 Languages of Love - Gary Chapman

Depression

• The Red Tree – Shaun Tan

Parenting

• Boundaries with Kids: How healthy choices grow healthy children – Dr Henry Cloud.
• Buddhism for Mothers with young children: How to become a mindful parent – Sarah Napthal

May you find the words you need, when you need them and use them wisely.

 

 

Running as a journey not a race.

My personal history and experience with running has been one riddled with pushing yourself that little bit harder, no pain no gain and using competition to edge yourself over the finishing line. This has not served me well in running or in life. I may have had some wins but I never felt much like a winner. In contrast, when I am in a yoga pose I do not berate myself for not doing it perfectly or “winning”. Everyone's bodies are shaped differently, people hold their strength in varying ways and not everyone is at the same stage. It is about finding your breath, listening to your body, easing your way in. As one of my wiser teachers would always say, “bring acceptance into your practise”.

So this is what I do. I try to celebrate what I can do well rather than wallow in what I deemed as large failures. Running mindfully has meant I have never had to search for motivation. I also have complete mastery of my breathing. Strangely I have yet to have any sore muscles or aches. However these last two points, one could also argue this means I am not running hard enough.

I have started running 7 telephone poles further than the 3km mark and it takes me past some horses. At the time I was willing my body to keep running when clearly all it wanted to do was walk. It occurred to me, if it was the horse running with me on it's back I would have shown it more compassion than I do myself. I would have made sure that the horse would slow down if it was tired, told it look how far we have come and how close we are home and patted it's mane in encouragement.

I can not honestly say I like running yet but I can say I do not dislike it. This in itself feels like a milestone. No matter what condition I am in on the run as soon as I see the last hundred meters to our mailbox I pick up my pace, confidently and compassionately stride with effortless grace. For those last hundred yards of every run, I am the runner I will be.