Running Meditation

Running down the trail, you feel every muscle in your body as it contracts and extends, pushing yourself along.
Focus on your breathing. In. Out. In. Out.
Feel the air fill your lungs.
Push the air out slowly, letting your mind drift into a calm state.
Feel each footfall... heel, ball, toe, push off. Heel, ball, toe, push off.
The muscles in your thighs alternate between contraction and extension, as it takes your weight then propels you forward.
Feel your core, tight enough to keep your posture. Even the slight tension in your shoulders, keeping your arms in beat with your legs.
Heel, ball, toe. Heel, ball, toe. Push off.
The smell of the air around you is crisp and clear. Birds are chirping in the distance, water trickling down a stream nearby.
Heel, ball, toe. Heel, ball, toe.
Each step brings you closer to peace.
Heel, ball, toe. Heel, ball, toe. Push off.
The trail starts going uphill and you feel your thighs burning and your heart pounding.
You're breathing a little heavier now, in, out, in, out, in, out.
Heel, toe, push, heel, toe, push, heel, toe, push.
You power through it, cresting the top of the hill, the ground becoming even again.
Your breathing slows, in... out... in... out...
Each footfall is coming smoothly, without thought.
The air feels good in your lungs... rushing past your face... cooling your body.
The trail begins to fall downhill and your steps come faster... your stride lengthening.
Heel, ball, toe, push. Heel, ball, toe, push.
Your breath stays even this time; it's not so much work.
You feel your feet catch you as you descend the hill, making sure each impact is slow and deliberate.
Your core is more engaged now, keeping you upright.
This time you feel the tension in your outer thighs and hamstrings as they control your pace going down the hill.
Finally, the trail levels out one last time.
This is it, your last push to the end of the trail.
You give all your power to your legs, pressing forward through the exhaustion, making a sprint for the end.
Faster, faster, faster.
Your feet fall so fast you can barely focus on their movement.
Step, push, step, push, step, push.
You're sucking in air and pushing it out even faster, trying to get as much oxygen as possible.
Faster.
Your thighs feel the stretch as you reach your longest stride.
Carrying that pace, you see the end of the trail, willing yourself to keep moving.
Step, push, step, push.
Breathe, inoutinoutinoutinout.
You cross the end of the trail, into the grass. You made it!