Beyond the Numbers: Finding Peace on the Run
Pic from my runs
We hear it all the time: running is a numbers game. Distance, time, speed, pace, heart rate, VO2 max, BMI, weight, temperature, humidity, AQI—the list goes on. For years, I too was caught in this quantifiable quest. But what if I told you that for me, a runner for over four decades, running is about anything but the numbers?
“Run, not to run away from life, but to be at peace with it.”
My Journey: From Punishment to Peace
Pic from my runs
My relationship with running began innocently enough, a curious defiance in my boarding school days. While others dreaded the punishment of running laps, I found joy in it. Why? Because running, for me, is a profound pathway to calm. It's how I connect with my deeper, truer self. It's where I untangle life's curveballs and, most importantly, it's my moving meditation.
Since 2003, I've had the privilege of sharing this passion. From helping beginners find their stride to guiding seasoned runners to push their limits, I've mentored countless individuals. I even founded "La Ultra - The High," a race in Ladakh with seemingly insane distances like 111, 222, 333, and 555 km. On the surface, it seemed all about the numbers, but the true essence was always something deeper.
The June Experiment: Listening to My Body
Strava details for the first 11 days of June 2025
Fast forward to June 2025. Delhi is sweltering, with temperatures hitting 30°C even at 5 AM. I decided to embark on a personal experiment, throwing out "random" numbers on social media about my runs. In the first 11 days of this month, I covered 206.59 km in 17 hours, 19 minutes, and 19 seconds, averaging a 5-minute per kilometer pace. Seven of those runs were half-marathon distances or longer.
But here's the kicker: I made some rookie mistakes. My biggest challenge? Running slow. It's not about comparison or showing off; it's about the innate peace I find at a 4:15-4:30 minute per kilometer pace. Yet, in this heat, starting even slightly too fast can quickly overheat your body's engine, and by the time you realize it, it's too late. It's like that old saying: "Marry in haste, repent at leisure." Combine that with poor hydration and forgetting energy gels, and you've got a recipe for disaster. Just a month ago, I could comfortably run 21 kilometers at that pace without a drop of water—not to boast, but because my body and mind have adapted over the years. But in summer, that's simply not an option.
Pic from my runs
Despite the mishaps, most of my runs have been incredibly solid. I've felt like I'm floating, levitating, meditating, truly becoming one with the cosmos. This experiment has been a test of my "meditation in motion" philosophy.
Running: Your Unassuming Therapist
Pic from my runs
When I mentor runners, I emphasize this crucial point: don't run to run away from life or yourself. Instead, run to get to know yourself better, and to find peace with what you discover. Denial is never the answer.
Running is like that good friend, that quiet therapist, who doesn't offer quick fixes but simply hears you out. In my medical practice, I've learned that people often know the solutions to their problems far better than the doctors they consult. They are, after all, the only ones who have spent every moment of their lives with themselves. Once you dedicate time to truly thinking about a problem, the solution begins to surface.
Pic from my runs
The harder you try, the tougher it becomes. The more you search, the more elusive the answer. Sometimes, you just need to let it be, and in good time, everything will start to align. Running helps you listen to yourself because in this incredibly noisy world, we often don't even hear our own thoughts, let alone truly listen to them.
So, for the rest of June, my plan is clear: no focus on numbers. Just to be.
What does running mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
