Do you feel a beat when you run? Do you establish a pattern with your breathing and foot strikes? Then congratulations! You have rhythm.
When our breaths are in sync with our footstrikes, it feels soothing and almost meditative. Getting into that pattern is so comforting to me, opening the doors to release excess energy, sort through my feelings, and compose my thoughts. I do think it’s this natural rhythm that facilitates it.
Maybe this is why I transformed from the schoolgirl who got out of running the mile in gym class to the marathon runner I am now. It was all about the comfort of rhythm.
When my husband and I owned a CrossFit gym, most members loathed WODs featuring running. I, on the other hand, was relieved when I saw this in the workout! I couldn’t understand the hatred for this fitness activity I loved so much.
Many of our members complained that they couldn’t figure out how to breathe while running. Explaining this piece was simple, really: just breathe with your steps. I typically fall into a breathing in for two steps, out for two steps. It works well for me.
I’m not the only runner who has established a pattern of breaths vs. footsteps. It’s not a unique phenomenon, but some prefer a slightly different pattern than a 2:2 ratio. Some coaches even encourage a 3:2 pattern, and one explanation I found for this correlated consistent even patterns of breathing and foot strikes to increased risk of injury. This was based on a study conducted in 1983. More recent research supports the idea that an even pattern is more advantageous after all.
After reading the first study, I tried to switch to a 3:2 pattern, but it required too much concentration to be valuable for me, so I went back to my 2:2 pattern. I was thrilled to read the newer study which justifies my 2:2 system. I had no idea how instinctually smart I was!
Finding your groove with running is super satisfying, and getting your breathing in tune with your steps is a big piece of this for me.
I also remember the first race I ran after COVID. There was no music, no cheering of supporters, just hundreds of taps of feet hitting the pavement. It was almost musical, and a sound I didn’t realize I missed.
Rhythms soothe our bodies. Even as babies, we loved the sensation of being rocked to sleep. As we age, we seek the same sensation in a rocking chair or swing.
If you run with music, do you ever automatically sync your cadence to the beat of the tunes? This is another sneaky way the brain proves to us that it loves rhythms.
If you are new to running, are struggling with figuring out the best way to breathe during the activity, and haven’t quite sorted out why people love it so much yet, try to sync your breathing and footsteps on your next run. You may discover how meditative running can be!
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Do you find running meditative? I’d love to hear about it!
As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.
Anne the Vegan 