WWAMD?

I suppose some people always run at a pace that feels comfortable to them.  Not me.  I'm always pushing the envelope or trying to keep up with someone else.  I don't really know why.  I actually wonder sometimes what it would be like to run at a comfortable pace.  So on my last several runs, I have not pushed myself to go faster; not even once.  That may be the secret to not getting injured.  Besides, I just finished a 9 miler in Aliso & Wood Canyons (with Lauren and Liz below) and I'm not even tired.  I could get used to this!

Where's all his stuff?

These last few runs I also have not carried a phone, camera, iPod, watch, GPS, or even a water bottle.  What's up with that?  First of all, not having a watch or GPS has been great because I have no idea how fast I'm going so I'm not trying to hold a certain pace or beat the clock.  That's for racers.  I'm not racing.  Don't laugh if this seems obvious to you - to me it was an epiphany.  I even used to joke that I needed to see those numbers because it was the only way I could tell if I was having fun!  

Not carrying water bottles or hydration packs is great, too.  So far my longest runs like this have been 9 and 15 miles.  There was no water stop on today's 9 mile run, but on the 15 miler there was water at miles 3 and 12.  Before starting each run, I just drink about a quart of water.  If there's water along the route I stop and drink my fill.  A few weeks ago as I was passing through a gate in the Santa Ana mountains, a mountain biker asked me "Are you OK?  Don't you have any water?"  I pointed to my stomach and said, "Yeah, I'm carrying my water in this big bag right here".  He smiled, but he and his friends looked skeptical.

Maybe it's just a phase, but I'm  really starting to like not carrying any stuff.  It makes running seem more primal, yes, even more normal; not something I have to prepare for by gathering up a bunch of stuff.  The minimalist in me must be coming to the surface, and I'm enjoying the results so far.

So would you like to try a simpler approach to running?  The next time you're trying to squeeze all your stuff into your various pockets and packs, ask yourself:

What Would A Minimalist Do?