I really like that idea that music is in motion and running away from us, rather than being a finite historical event. Its aliveness and fleeting nature make it all the more precious as an organic and living experience that we must not take for granted because we don't know that we will have the opportunity to hear it again. Running and listening to music seem to be two things that demand that we live in the moment. When so much of human activity works to do the opposite, that seems a wonderful thing. Just riffing here, but you've got me thinking again!
Hi Ellen, and thanks for commenting. Yes, I like that point of Ratliff's too, about music running away. As he says, that holds much of its pleasure, but also causes issues for those of us who try to hold on to it long enough to write about it. But that's okay, because it still draws us to comment, or to have thoughts that we want to share, and that is part of what it does to and for us: it gets us from one place to another.
I really enjoyed this piece, Richard. I am not a runner; I have never run, yet there is much I glean from what you say and can apply to my own life. I can relate to the discipline needed when putting one's body through daily running. Especially long-distance running.
My wife and I both became vegan four and a half years ago. We were already vegetarian (well, pescatarian), but when the lockdown happened, we decided it was a good time to see if we could transition to a fully plant-based diet. In December 2020, we did, and there has been no looking back. This is now our life choice. However, unlike your running conversations, I rarely mention it in public, as sadly, there seems to be a serious dislike and disregard for veganism in this world. But with other vegans, we often talk about this life choice (in safety with one another!), how much better we feel, how our sense of taste has changed, how we once thought we would miss certain foods like cheese (but we don't!), and we share recipes. As with running, it takes mental discipline to change one's diet so dramatically. The hardest part these days is when we travel (Cuba was difficult, but we managed). However, we are driving across the US, and once we leave Portland, we will be in meat country, where vegans are few and far between. So we have to think about what we can take with us. Just as I am sure you do when you run in new spaces.
When you talk about what Ratliff says is "running in silence" and yet list all the sounds of life you are hearing and how connected you are to your environment (including every nook, branch, step, and cranny of your journey), you are actually listening to far more than just the song Ratliff hears in his journey. You are absorbing and moving in harmony as you glide through the landscape. There is Zen to your running that listening to music may remove.
I also appreciate the tone of mindfulness and giving yourself grace when taking a break from writing, as your past month or so has been particularly busy. And even though you didn't connect music to this post, you are okay with it. That is a level of mindful peace and graciousness that I truly admire and pull from this piece.
I have been much better about that, myself. When I first started my Substack, I was very intentional about publishing weekly. I did that for many weeks, and then after my first year, I recognized and accepted that it was I alone who was applying that pressure on myself. In my second year of writing, I have been more accepting and at peace with not forcing it. If I don't have something ready, that's ok. I am now heeding my own advice that I tell my students... Quality, not Quantity. I still write most days. Even if I don't put something down on paper, the thoughts are always flowing (whether I can remember everything, however, is a different matter).
Lastly, many congratulations on finishing the Edinburgh Marathon! Yep, the weather sounds like Edinburgh! Every time I’ve been up there, it seems like cold, painful sideways rain has been stabbing my face. Yet, wow, what a city! You accomplished what you set out to do, and for that, you should be very proud of your achievements. And since this was your first full marathon, your time can now be the benchmark to improve upon for your next marathon, and that will then serve as the next benchmark, and so on.
Finally, I have to point out that Ratliff's book title reminds me of the name of the Spacemen 3 album, 'Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To.' 😎
Thank you for this generous comment, Michael (generous in tone and extent). Though not vegan myself, I get the impression from friends and family who are or have been that things are not quite as tough here in the UK in recent years. Without my own lived experience, though, I may have that wrong.
As an update to the running soundtrack and 'Zen' silence, I did my first run with the earphones my wife bought me yesterday. It was strange, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something that was there before, but it was also enjoyable from a music listening aspect as I did hear things in the music that I might not have noticed otherwise (and this is one of Ratliff's points, so I was keen to test it out). I foresee a mixed approach for future outings, where I'll opt for natural soundtrack or artificial as the mood takes me. If anything, that should keep me aware of the contrasts - the best of both worlds, as it were.
On writing, what you say is wise. I have put less pressure on myself this second year of my project than I did in the first. That's been necessary in order to allow other aspects of life to happen (including running, which was taking up more and more of my time ahead of Edinburgh).
congratulations on your running adventures and completing your first marathon so quickly. (I mean, within a year or so of setting off. I mean, you know what I mean!) That's a fair leap, and I hope you are giving your body and legs time to recover. I did the latter miles of Boston 2015 into a headwind of cold horizontal rain and it was as close to hypothermia as I have ever come, so kudos for sticking it out.
My ex recently got me Ben Ratliff's book and it is on my bedside reading pile. I have read many others and I have host of articles on my Substack here about my own running adventures and limited advice and I invite you to dig back if you're intrigued (they are probably behind the paywall by now but there's a good half book or so in there). Two quick observations based on your writings about reading Ratliff's writings in the midst of your running adventures (again, you know what I mean).
There is no right or wrong running path. Logging vs. not logging. Competing vs. not competing. Trails vs. roads. Marathons vs. 5k. Whatever works for me, you and Ben works for me, you and Ben. We are getting out there, enjoying ourselves and feeling better about ourselves as a result - and as evidenced in your correlation to your writing.
Then, on a personal note, I typically tend to listen to podcasts while running solo. (I have stopped listening to music unless I have to as... tinnitus. Earbuds have a lot to do with it, another subject I have written about. Running is also just ab out the only time I get to listen to podcasts and I treasure it.) I *never* listen to music while racing, I always love being 'present' in the event. And/but, to tag on to your own thoughts from reading Ratliff ahead of me, the sounds of all round are music to my ears. Same on a trail event where, on the longer ones, I might not see anyone for miles.
Hi Tony, and thanks for the encouragement. I read a few of your running pieces last year when I first discovered your Substack, and I enjoyed them very much. I'll check out that episode - thanks for the link.
Yes, you're right about there not being a right or wrong. I was curious to note some of the differences in practice, but it's all good.
That's annoying about the tinnitus. I've never got on with earbuds. Usually, for walking or headphones listening at home, I use over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. But my wife has just bought me a pair of bone conduction earphones. I took them out for a debut today and found the experience weird but rewarding. I could still hear the birdsong and other ambient sounds, but I had Neil Young & Crazy Horse to keep me going. Kept it short, though, because, as you say, I'm still in recovery from Edinburgh so will avoid long runs for a bit longer.
I really like that idea that music is in motion and running away from us, rather than being a finite historical event. Its aliveness and fleeting nature make it all the more precious as an organic and living experience that we must not take for granted because we don't know that we will have the opportunity to hear it again. Running and listening to music seem to be two things that demand that we live in the moment. When so much of human activity works to do the opposite, that seems a wonderful thing. Just riffing here, but you've got me thinking again!
Hi Ellen, and thanks for commenting. Yes, I like that point of Ratliff's too, about music running away. As he says, that holds much of its pleasure, but also causes issues for those of us who try to hold on to it long enough to write about it. But that's okay, because it still draws us to comment, or to have thoughts that we want to share, and that is part of what it does to and for us: it gets us from one place to another.
So true and well-said.
I really enjoyed this piece, Richard. I am not a runner; I have never run, yet there is much I glean from what you say and can apply to my own life. I can relate to the discipline needed when putting one's body through daily running. Especially long-distance running.
My wife and I both became vegan four and a half years ago. We were already vegetarian (well, pescatarian), but when the lockdown happened, we decided it was a good time to see if we could transition to a fully plant-based diet. In December 2020, we did, and there has been no looking back. This is now our life choice. However, unlike your running conversations, I rarely mention it in public, as sadly, there seems to be a serious dislike and disregard for veganism in this world. But with other vegans, we often talk about this life choice (in safety with one another!), how much better we feel, how our sense of taste has changed, how we once thought we would miss certain foods like cheese (but we don't!), and we share recipes. As with running, it takes mental discipline to change one's diet so dramatically. The hardest part these days is when we travel (Cuba was difficult, but we managed). However, we are driving across the US, and once we leave Portland, we will be in meat country, where vegans are few and far between. So we have to think about what we can take with us. Just as I am sure you do when you run in new spaces.
When you talk about what Ratliff says is "running in silence" and yet list all the sounds of life you are hearing and how connected you are to your environment (including every nook, branch, step, and cranny of your journey), you are actually listening to far more than just the song Ratliff hears in his journey. You are absorbing and moving in harmony as you glide through the landscape. There is Zen to your running that listening to music may remove.
I also appreciate the tone of mindfulness and giving yourself grace when taking a break from writing, as your past month or so has been particularly busy. And even though you didn't connect music to this post, you are okay with it. That is a level of mindful peace and graciousness that I truly admire and pull from this piece.
I have been much better about that, myself. When I first started my Substack, I was very intentional about publishing weekly. I did that for many weeks, and then after my first year, I recognized and accepted that it was I alone who was applying that pressure on myself. In my second year of writing, I have been more accepting and at peace with not forcing it. If I don't have something ready, that's ok. I am now heeding my own advice that I tell my students... Quality, not Quantity. I still write most days. Even if I don't put something down on paper, the thoughts are always flowing (whether I can remember everything, however, is a different matter).
Lastly, many congratulations on finishing the Edinburgh Marathon! Yep, the weather sounds like Edinburgh! Every time I’ve been up there, it seems like cold, painful sideways rain has been stabbing my face. Yet, wow, what a city! You accomplished what you set out to do, and for that, you should be very proud of your achievements. And since this was your first full marathon, your time can now be the benchmark to improve upon for your next marathon, and that will then serve as the next benchmark, and so on.
Finally, I have to point out that Ratliff's book title reminds me of the name of the Spacemen 3 album, 'Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To.' 😎
Welcome back to the 'stack!
Thank you for this generous comment, Michael (generous in tone and extent). Though not vegan myself, I get the impression from friends and family who are or have been that things are not quite as tough here in the UK in recent years. Without my own lived experience, though, I may have that wrong.
As an update to the running soundtrack and 'Zen' silence, I did my first run with the earphones my wife bought me yesterday. It was strange, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something that was there before, but it was also enjoyable from a music listening aspect as I did hear things in the music that I might not have noticed otherwise (and this is one of Ratliff's points, so I was keen to test it out). I foresee a mixed approach for future outings, where I'll opt for natural soundtrack or artificial as the mood takes me. If anything, that should keep me aware of the contrasts - the best of both worlds, as it were.
On writing, what you say is wise. I have put less pressure on myself this second year of my project than I did in the first. That's been necessary in order to allow other aspects of life to happen (including running, which was taking up more and more of my time ahead of Edinburgh).
Yes to the Spacemen 3 ref!
Hey Richard,
congratulations on your running adventures and completing your first marathon so quickly. (I mean, within a year or so of setting off. I mean, you know what I mean!) That's a fair leap, and I hope you are giving your body and legs time to recover. I did the latter miles of Boston 2015 into a headwind of cold horizontal rain and it was as close to hypothermia as I have ever come, so kudos for sticking it out.
My ex recently got me Ben Ratliff's book and it is on my bedside reading pile. I have read many others and I have host of articles on my Substack here about my own running adventures and limited advice and I invite you to dig back if you're intrigued (they are probably behind the paywall by now but there's a good half book or so in there). Two quick observations based on your writings about reading Ratliff's writings in the midst of your running adventures (again, you know what I mean).
There is no right or wrong running path. Logging vs. not logging. Competing vs. not competing. Trails vs. roads. Marathons vs. 5k. Whatever works for me, you and Ben works for me, you and Ben. We are getting out there, enjoying ourselves and feeling better about ourselves as a result - and as evidenced in your correlation to your writing.
Then, on a personal note, I typically tend to listen to podcasts while running solo. (I have stopped listening to music unless I have to as... tinnitus. Earbuds have a lot to do with it, another subject I have written about. Running is also just ab out the only time I get to listen to podcasts and I treasure it.) I *never* listen to music while racing, I always love being 'present' in the event. And/but, to tag on to your own thoughts from reading Ratliff ahead of me, the sounds of all round are music to my ears. Same on a trail event where, on the longer ones, I might not see anyone for miles.
I also have a lot about running on my hiatus podcast, One Step Beyond. And those are deffo free. You may find this one especially interesting: https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond/episodes/ep-13-still-running
Again, congrats. I look forward to diving back into last year's post.
Tony
Hi Tony, and thanks for the encouragement. I read a few of your running pieces last year when I first discovered your Substack, and I enjoyed them very much. I'll check out that episode - thanks for the link.
Yes, you're right about there not being a right or wrong. I was curious to note some of the differences in practice, but it's all good.
That's annoying about the tinnitus. I've never got on with earbuds. Usually, for walking or headphones listening at home, I use over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. But my wife has just bought me a pair of bone conduction earphones. I took them out for a debut today and found the experience weird but rewarding. I could still hear the birdsong and other ambient sounds, but I had Neil Young & Crazy Horse to keep me going. Kept it short, though, because, as you say, I'm still in recovery from Edinburgh so will avoid long runs for a bit longer.