It's funny isn't it? The need to always justify why we are doing things. It why we care when someone with more money can afford better kit than us. Does that change our own direct experience? Perhaps with crowds but we've always been the ones seeking solitude anyway and for damn sure there are people who have been doing it longer with less kit than us. I did my first winter route the other day. I didn't want to ski because I was having elitism paranoia. Then I thought to have all this climbing kit is elitist. Until I looked at all the second hand junk, jackets etc that some old mountain goat had thrown me as scraps. The point of this is that we know we are privileged but not enjoying ourselves is not going to change that. Showing compassion might. Next time you see someone looking like they want to have a lot of fun then throw them your old shoes, skateboard, ice axes and feel good about yourself.
At work we launched a virtual running club to help people tackle the mental and physical afflictions of lockdown and home working. It started small and has grown huge and has had a tremendous impact on many for the reasons mentioned above but also for people to network in a community untroubled by organisational codes or subunits. A place where role, rank and region mean bugger all. It’s great.
However I find myself longing for the early months. The initial excitement when it was just a small bunch of people experimenting. Now it almost feels like it’s commercialised (it’s not, we paid for own t-shirts 😅), mainstream even. Being there at the start was a real buzz.
Reading this Running High has me reflecting on why I now feel less connected to something that is, ultimately, a great success and serving many people really well. The vast majority of whom are far more capable runners than me. Hang on, maybe that’s it. 🤣
It's funny isn't it? The need to always justify why we are doing things. It why we care when someone with more money can afford better kit than us. Does that change our own direct experience? Perhaps with crowds but we've always been the ones seeking solitude anyway and for damn sure there are people who have been doing it longer with less kit than us. I did my first winter route the other day. I didn't want to ski because I was having elitism paranoia. Then I thought to have all this climbing kit is elitist. Until I looked at all the second hand junk, jackets etc that some old mountain goat had thrown me as scraps. The point of this is that we know we are privileged but not enjoying ourselves is not going to change that. Showing compassion might. Next time you see someone looking like they want to have a lot of fun then throw them your old shoes, skateboard, ice axes and feel good about yourself.
At work we launched a virtual running club to help people tackle the mental and physical afflictions of lockdown and home working. It started small and has grown huge and has had a tremendous impact on many for the reasons mentioned above but also for people to network in a community untroubled by organisational codes or subunits. A place where role, rank and region mean bugger all. It’s great.
However I find myself longing for the early months. The initial excitement when it was just a small bunch of people experimenting. Now it almost feels like it’s commercialised (it’s not, we paid for own t-shirts 😅), mainstream even. Being there at the start was a real buzz.
Reading this Running High has me reflecting on why I now feel less connected to something that is, ultimately, a great success and serving many people really well. The vast majority of whom are far more capable runners than me. Hang on, maybe that’s it. 🤣