I really enjoyed this book a few years ago and I had a meditative state when I ran. By meditative I mean realizing what I was thinking, at a distance, while still thinking.
People often ask how runners don’t get bored when running for hours. Well, because our mind is super busy and it’s only when I am running, showering, walking, that I let those thoughts come out.
It also reminds me of Oliver’s book about our life, in a canoe going through the river, the river takes us, we have control but little.
Anyway, examples of things that come to mind when running, especially when listening to music.
- list of gifts for the upcoming holiday/birthdays
- list of things I want to buy in the US (January work visit), China
- opening remarks for my interviews
- potential technical questions I should prepare for
- old friends that I should reach out
- recipes I want to make for the family
- blog post ideas
- happy things lately
- friends for life that I collect in each country assignment: 6 in Manila, 4 in Jakarta.
- places to add to our travel list
- quotes from books I read recently
What do you think when you run/bike?
Workout: 8 miles with strides, 30 min lower body strength
Listen: this episode with Malcolm
Read: the plot (50%)
It was a normal workday to take a break from the interview prep.
Our New Journey 
This was always one of my biggest challenges – my mind couldn’t wander when I was running. I felt like it got stuck on a loop. But a long solo walk (which I admittedly don’t do very often) is when my brain can really start percolating. I get A LOT of ideas on walks.
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I don’t run, but my mind often wanders when I’m working out or walking. Usually I’m listening to something but I will often pause the sound just to think. I think about writing a lot, or what I’m going to do that day.
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Ummmmm I listen to something always when running! Speed –> music. Non-speed (ie most of the time) –> podcasts. I stlil feel like I get thinking done but it’s more like reflecting on the content I consume. Often at 1.5+ speed . . . lol. What can I say, I do enjoy it. and I don’t find it tears up my focus and mindset like social media or things that switch quickly.
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Yes! I do my best thinking on long runs… I run through all the lists, or I work out a work problem, or think about what I want to blog about, et.c
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