Running brings me closer to my Jewish soul

I have not always been a runner.

I started running five years ago, from scratch, after telling a friend that a half marathon was on my bucket list. Now, two ultra-marathons in, it has truly become part of my spiritual conditioning.

I run along the Western Australian coastline in the blazing sun, or into the gusty winds and even when the skies are pouring with rain. I run to feel, to think, to process, to experience and to expand. When I run, it feels good. Mostly.

Running is a game changer, it has shaped me as a person through some of the most difficult times of my life. It gives me a space to tune into myself, get into my body and get out of my head.  

I mostly run solo. I spend thousands of kilometres alone on my feet. When you run, it becomes more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge. Your mind wanders and you have to meet parts of yourself that would otherwise hide within.

It can sometimes feel hard spending so much time in concentrated company with yourself. It gets hard because the voice in your head keeps telling you to stop, but that’s where it gets interesting.

When I go running, it is impossible not to think of the season. I become intimately acquainted with the rain, the wind, the sunshine, and the air. I feel the cold seeping in. I feel a deep immersion in the world around me. Running outdoors, solo and for long distances might mean I’m alone, but I'm also deeply connected to something bigger than myself.