The Japanese forestry service coined this phrase and is translated as “forest bathing.” Immersing oneself in a forest setting or atmosphere is a form of nature therapy that has been promoted by the Japanese government since 1982. I think we all innately understand this. being in nature, or exposed to a natural environment has a bunch of scientifically proven health benefits. These include improved immune system, lowered blood pressure, reduced stress, improved ability to focus, improves ability to sleep and recover from illness. These are all benefits claimed by natural science hippies and they are probably right.
I have been running outside consecutively for over 400 days now. I think physical exercise is a big part of my health improvement, but I have to stop and consider that being outside has also been a dramatic improvement for me. When I travel, I am looking to be outside in the morning and evening, getting my running and exercises in. That causes me to find trails, paths, and parks. I have seen curious and beautiful things. I am getting exposed to the elements more often, soaking in sunshine and generally gaining the incredible mood altering high from physical exercise coupled with just being in nature.
As I look back through my log for the last 400 days, I am seeing runs through downtown city areas such as San Diego, New York, San Francisco. I am seeing runs in freezing cold conditions (Minnesota) and I am seeing runs in the arid desert, Las Vegas area. I have ran in snow, hail, rain, blistering heat, mud, pavement. I have jumped over sleeping homeless people, ran through rivers and streams. I have ran uphills, down hills, through forests and abandoned railways. I have ran with deer, coyotes, wolves, seen a bear, seen a mountain lion, jumped over several snakes. I have been bitten by flies, ants and one tick. I have been chased by a dog and a human. Not sure what the total miles have been but I am confident that I have exceeded 2500 miles since I started.
All of these miles are spent outdoors where I normally would have been indoors watching something, doing nothing, eating, talking on the phone or staring at my computer. Part of me thinks that many of the benefits that I have got from running, have simply came because I was outside doing something other then being stressed out, hunched over, and staring a computer. As I near my milestone of completing a marathon I am looking to my next major target. I think I will take this concept of Shinrin-yoku to heart and go to the dark side of running. Trail running. I have been primarily doing road racing, with an occasional trail mixed in. I think I will go the opposite starting next week. Spend more time in nature and not the concrete jungle.
This leads me to my next major milestone. Looking for something 6 months away. Uh oh. Just looked up races 6 months away and there is one on December 7th. The Anza Borrego 50 Mile Race starting in Julian, CA. I love Julian, it is surrounded by forests. I think this is a sign. 50 miles! Really? No way. That would really suck! Ah….but I have learned to embrace the suck! Hmmm. I need something new and impossible to drive my commitment for the next 6 months. What have I just done! It is on now. Tyler, where are you when I need you!
Shinrin-yoku here I come!
Guy Reams
2 Days Left
