Hey, hey, Hey! How are you feeling today? (looks like we are doing some rap here). On our side, everytime we have the chance to write an article to share with you, we feel like we are about to go out to the mountains and run. Excited for this week’s topic!
”THE HERO’S JOURNEY”
Have you ever asked yourself: what does running mean to me? Maybe if you take 5 minutes to think about the answer, you may feel all those positive feelings that you have while running, especially if, when you go out, you see running as your “meditation”. Or just like Pedro (one of our community members) says: I run to free my mind.
But let’s take a step back.
What most running brands promote or when people talk about running, the first thing that comes up into their minds is: Olympic Games, amazing athletes like Usain Bolt or Eliud Kipchoge with almost "4% body fat", Marathons or Half-Marathons, someone fast or the hype about the fastest times (and it is impossible to forget about those athletes who finished in the podium). A big focus on the competitive side of the sport and, of course, we are talking about athletes that, sometimes, amazes us with their unique achievements.
But then, what about you, your running friends and that runner you passed today while you were training? What about, we would say, the majority of "normal" runners, with different bodyshapes, who are not professionals and have running as a “lifehack” & personal growth tool, that allows them to have that incredible feeling that they are conquering something?
What running means to them? Again, what running means to you?
Let’s see if we can find an answer that matches yours.
The reason why we called this “The Hero’s Journey” is because, somehow, for these “normal runners”, going out to run (small, medium or long distances) ressonates with the set structure created by Jason Campbell to explain all humanity's greatest stories, also described as…”The Hero’s Journey”.
This journey starts with a “Call to Adventure” that happens in the ordinary world. With the assistance of a supernatural aid (let’s call it here, internal drive), the “hero” (you) crosses a threshold into the supernatural world (nature) where he/she faces obstacles, “dark” moments of suffering. In the end, grit, resilience, the will to overcome the obstacles, gives the hero a power to finish the “quest” before returning home. Conclusion? A journey that, everytime that happens, has a very positive impact on hero’s….your life. Can you see the similarities?
Based on our day-to-day lives, the amount of information we receive, the materialism that we see every day, fortunately, for most of us, there is something that makes us want to make a difference. That passion that unites us and that makes us, in this race against ourselves, feel better, be better than we were before.
It is this vision, that leads many of our friends to say "you are crazy", that makes us show up, “every day” (it is ok to have some days off) to find comfort, through discomfort, pursue something with consistency, climbing up the unknown accepting that change is the only constant, pain and pleasure are all just experiences. In the end of each training, of each race, we feel what it means to be fully alive.
This is why we really believe that running might be called, the art of showing up, something that for some people might be difficult to do or to even understand. We are so used to being on the confort zone that the single decision of going out, in the end, represents an uplifting experience. And since the time is always running out, we show up and make it count.
Is there a match with the feeling you have when you show up to run?
Let us know!
Candy Station
🎥 Running with purpose
Since today we are talking about “The Hero’s Journey”, here is a real inspiring video from the ultrarunner Pau Capell, who ran 250km through the artic to raise awareness of climate change.
⭐”Contact me in two months”
Started in September 2020, Jonas Deichmann is on the mission to complete a Triathlon 360, looking to cover the distance of 120 Ironman’s (40.000km), starting in Munich, going all around the world, returning to Munich. With a minimal carbon footprint.
We tried to invite him to one of our The Journey Talks but Jonas is now passing the wild part of Siberia and, because of that, we must wait two months to get back to him. We totally understand 😁 You can follow is journey here.
We got your back
If you feel like that you want to raise your hand ✋ and shout: I want to be part of this! Come, join this community of like-minded runners!
Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect by joining our community:
Accountability: When you get back home from work or practice, you will have a community of runners that holds each other accountable to keep momentum;
Share Stories and Learnings: You will have access to our digital safe space where we will share stories and learnings, victories and losses, help others to achieve their goals by just saying: "Count on me!;
Support and Training: Being a global community, with our "The Journey Experiences", we will organize digital and physical events all year around, for you to connect with the others members.
And more…this is just the beginning.