walk-feet-2Who knew that the secret to happiness and good health is right at our feet?

While trying to come to grips with the changes my body, mind and life were going through after turning 50, I came across a life-changing article in the Wall Street Journal about Jeff Galloway, the Olympian and marathoner who developed the Run-Walk-Run program used by hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

The article was published the day after the NYC Marathon, so its focus was on how anyone can train and run in a Marathon using Jeff’s program. At that time, I was more interested in losing the 15 post-menopausal pounds I had packed on, and looking for ways to incorporate exercise and fitness into my life without spending a lot of money or time in the process.

I knew I had to do something to get my health, weight and stress level back on track, but run? I had never willingly run in my life, except during the dreaded annual Field Day at P.S. 203!

Worse, I hadn’t done any kind of sustained exercise since having children, and it was definitely showing. A few days later, I decided to contact Jeff to talk about his program. When we spoke, he insisted that anyone who could walk could run, regardless of age or fitness level, just by following his simple method. In fact, people all around the world use the program to train for marathons, often improving their race time. At least willing to try — I made a commitment that day and bought my first pair of running shoes.

Galloway’s Run-Walk-Run program, which has been followed by hundreds of thousands of runners of all ages and abilities since 1978, and has a 98 percent marathon-completion success rate, lets you alternate between gentle running with regular walk breaks — and plenty of them. I’m sure there are many running purists who snicker at the idea of taking walk breaks, but based on Jeff’s research and experience, they may be the ones looking for the orthopedic surgeons.

Like many people over 50, I was worried about running, because I had heard that running, or even strenuous walking, can hurt our joints. Research shows, however, that it won’t, if done right. After 30 years of following his own program, Jeff has never had an injury. The reason is simple: it calls for slow, gentle running, with scheduled walk breaks. Distance, not speed, is the goal. It’s easy on the joints, and yet gives a high performance cardio work out.

Running, at any age, offers many positive benefits: reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression and dementia. Contrary to what many people believe, running does not predispose joints to arthritis. In fact, studies show that walking and running can help even chronic health problems. You can do it anywhere, anytime, and it’s free. 

 

A few months into Jeff’s program, I was hooked: happily running three days a week (with our rescued dog, Gunther, at my side), burning calories, losing weight and having a lot more energy. On the non-running days, I started walking for 30 or more minutes, even climbing up and down my building’s staircase a few times, giving my body a reason to move every day. No gym, no trainer, no cost.

But something else started to happen. Being a creature of habit, I usually take the same path through Central Park during my runs, in the same direction, playing the same Tom Petty music on my iPhone, instinctively knowing exactly when to take my 30 or 60 second walk breaks. I found myself “running on autopilot.” While always aware of my surroundings to ensure that I was safe (cars, bikers and other runners are often nearby), there was a subtle change taking place: I became more focused, concentrating on my breathing, letting stress and tension melt away. I no longer cared how fast I was going, or how many people passed me. My body and mind worked in unison, creating a steady, rhythmic pace. A deep feeling of wellbeing flooded over me.

I had moved into a state of meditative running.

 

New studies are always coming out which underscore meditation’s power to help us concentrate, focus, be more aware, calm and relaxed, offering possible health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, among other things. But, meditation wasn’t anything I intentionally experienced before, nor had I set out to do it while running. Intrigued, I did some research about mindful meditation, and came to the conclusion that each time I ran, I was slipping into a state of meditative running, which was having the same positive impact on my health and life had I been sitting on a yoga mat for an hour every day.

According to the Mayo Clinic:

Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. Meditation produces a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process results in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.

bhg-run-vaMy clearest thinking happens while I’m in a state of meditative running. A year into it, I developed the concept for my first book, “The Best of Everything After 50“ (in which I discuss the Run-Walk-Run program in great detail), and my articles are thought through and very often written (in my head) while I run. If there is a conflict in my life, or a problem that needs solving, invariably the answers become clear during those times.

In a few weeks, I am running my third NYC Marathon to celebrate my 60th birthday (some details are below). Naturally, the idea came to me one day when I was out for a run. My body and mind kicked into a perfect meditative rhythm, and at that moment, I had no doubt that I could not only handle the physical endurance that would be required to train and complete another marathon even though I’m five years older … but I would embrace it as a symbol of my physical and mental power.

Haruki Murakami describes with beautiful candor and eloquence how long-distance running is now an integral part of him. In “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running“ he wrote:

Long-distance running (more or less, for better or worse) has molded me into the person I am today, and I’m hoping it will remain a part of my life for as long as possible. I’ll be happy if running and I can grow old together.

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2016 New York City Marathon Weekly Training Countdown (20 weeks to go)

I’m running in the NYC Marathon on November 6th to celebrate my 60th birthday and raise money for the Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Fred’s Team, to help fund much needed colon cancer research, in memory of my grandfather, two great-nycmarathon2016shirtuncles, my brother-in-law (who succumbed to the disease six months ago), and the tens of thousands of others who lose their lives to this dreadful disease each year.

For more information on the Jeff Galloway Run/Walk/Run Method, check out his website, www.jeffgalloway.com.

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Staying connected is a powerful tool: “Friend” me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter (@BGrufferman). For more information about The Best of Everything After 50: The Experts’ Guide to Style, Sex, Health, Money and More, please visit my website, www.bestofeverythingafter50.com. Be well, and be in touch!

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