Ep 39 Running as a Contemplative Practice

Today, Wendy Porterfield and Liz Kravitz join us to talk to us about how running has evolved into a spiritual practice for them – a place where they can release and let go, where they can process, and where they can connect with others in a sense of meaning and accomplishment. 

Join us as they tell us their stories of overcoming struggle and discovering personal retreat, inner strength, and freedom.

Additional Resources

Liz Kravitz Coaching
Website: https://lizkravitz.wixsite.com/my-site-1
Email: lizkravitzcoaching@gmail.com
Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn, IG 

Justin Andrews – Running Coach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justin2ultra/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin2ultra 

#Ragnar
#TrailRunning
#5K
#RunningInSeasons
#RunningCommunity

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Transcript

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

running, community, trail running, Ragnar, cross country

Dominic Kaiser  00:06

Welcome to The Contemplative Life: Three pastors, friends and spiritual companions help us explore spirituality through a contemplative lens.

I'm Christina Roberts.
 I'm Chris Roberts.
 I'm Kristina Kaiser. We're glad you joined us.

Christina Roberts  00:24

Hello, it is great to be with you. Today we are going to be talking about running as a contemplative practice. I find that the connection of body-mind-spirit is a conversation that I am returning to over and over again. And I was actually recently in a conversation about the spirituality of running. I found it inspiring because that is not my story at all. I was that kid in PE class who dreaded running the mile. It was like the worst day of the year for me in PE class. And so whenever I'm around people who engage and love running, I find it so inspiring. So we decided to have two of our friends join us today on the podcast to share some of their experiences. First, I'd like to introduce Liz Kravitz. She lives locally here in Madison, Wisconsin, and is with Liz Kravitz coaching. Liz, welcome.

Liz Kravitz

Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to be here.

Christina Roberts  01:15

And then also joining us today from Madison is Wendy Porterfield. Wendy works part time with the Collaboration Project. Wendy, glad to have you.

Wendy Porterfield 01:23

Thank you so much. I'm so glad to be with you.

Christina Roberts  01:25

So I wonder if we can kick off our conversation when you hear the phrase “running as a spiritual practice,” I wonder what initially comes to mind for you?

Wendy Porterfield 01:33

I think it is, it is a spiritual practice. That's the first thing that comes to mind. Yeah, it is. It's definitely, as a mom of a young child, for me, it's definitely one of the only places that I have solo time, alone time. You know, it's one of my self-care practices, one of my only places for lots of thought and zoning out and releasing everything and letting go and being alone. And so it's definitely a place where I connect with God. And it's absolutely a spiritual practice. For me, it’s something I've come to need.  

Liz Kravitz 02:12

Yeah, I agree that it's something that I've come to need. I think the days that I don't run are very different from the days that I'm able to have that release and that outlet. It's the time when I can process things and work through anything that's coming up. For me, it's when I have my aha moments, and my motivational things that I like to post on my coaching page. It's the most spiritual thing I think I've ever had. That has stayed consistent throughout probably the past 20 years of my life. And I think it's really powerful. And it's really freeing for me,

Kristina Kaiser  02:44

It's so exciting. I'm so glad that you guys are talking about this. I ran cross country in middle school. And then I've done a few 5K. So I've stopped and started running in my adult life, but not consistently. So I'm wondering if you guys are able to talk at all, over the span of time, have you felt like the spiritual practice changes or that your connection has changed? Or how has this whole experience evolved or changed for you as you keep doing it?

Liz Kravitz 03:14

Yeah, I think I started running when I was younger, I was in eighth grade when I started running. And so I was kind of on and off again in my teens and my 20s. And it felt hard like I was doing it because I had to exercise and workout. And so it was like more of a push, and then into my late 20s and 30s and now into my 40s it's something I crave and I need and I want. So it's definitely evolved and grown into a spiritual practice. I don't think it was initially a spiritual practice, right when I started, it was something that I felt like I should do, or that was like a healthy thing to do. And now I think especially as I try to figure out what faith means to me in this new chapter of my life and going into my second half of life as I've been processing, it is really my safe place. And it's a place where there are no rules. It's my personal connection with God and with spirituality. And it's my personal connection with nature and with what's around me. So I think that it's really a safe place. I can get angry, I can get sad, I can be happy, I can celebrate anything that is coming up for me. And I'm just constantly in awe of things around me and what's happening and nature when I'm in that space and of what my body can do and I'm just so thankful for that. I was injured a couple years back and I couldn't run for almost two years and that was painful. I think it's definitely evolved and I'm excited to see how it continues to evolve.

Wendy Porterfield 04:43

Yeah, I think similar for me, Liz, you know, I started running in my teens. I did cross country in high school and then into my 20s I think I ran mostly for exercise to be in a bit of physical shape.  Then I actually lived in Hong Kong most recently prior to our time in Madison right now. And it was there that I discovered running in a new way really. There was a trail running community in Hong Kong that I got connected to through my brother, actually, they were the most incredible group of people. I went out to a bunch of races of my brothers to support him. And it was over the course of just supporting him and being exposed to this running community that I fell in love with the idea of trail running. And that's what I love. 

Now I think trail running is my thing. In Hong Kong I mean, we're just like flying on the mountains, pushing hard climbing up hills, is this challenge of my whole being like I can do hard things, you know, I can climb this mountain, I can face this challenge in my life. And then the downhills I found to be exhilarating. And my husband and I reflect on this a lot.  Either you give yourself to the risk of running downhill and let go or you are constantly bracing yourself against it and holding back and that's one of my life lessons. Am I going to embrace the tensions that are before me am I going to embrace the season I'm in, the place that I'm in, or am I going to just let go and surrender to it and submit to it and go? And the downhill is one of my, to this day, it's one of my freest most favorite places on earth.  I fly over roots and rocks and everything, you know, fly by people also, because I don't think everybody's learned to give in to the downhill, you know.  That’s one of the freest places for me. And I think, especially as I've gotten a little older and had a child and, you know, gone through a lot of transition, I have more to let go.  I have more to release, you know, I'm carrying more, and I have more to deal with. And so running is that space. For me, it's like, it's like a place of lament. I can, you know, let go how I'm feeling. I can pound the pavement or the dirt. And with every step, let it go, you know, and the natural endorphin rush that comes with exercise, you know, combined with the release of everything I'm carrying makes me feel so good by the time I'm done, no matter what I'm carrying into it. So it's just become an essential place for me. I, likewise have had a couple injuries in the last few years. And it's been tough to be out of running, but I'm back there and I'm so grateful.

Chris Roberts  07:21

I love hearing your stories. You know, if I think back to my own story of running, I was quite athletic when I was younger.  For me as I actually remember being in the theater watching Chariots of Fire. Eric says, God made me fast. And I enjoy God's pleasure when  I do this thing of running. And that was just inspirational for me as a kid. And so I was involved in track. I think for me, I love connecting with other people and it was sort of a team sport for me and connection to others. And so you know, you've touched on this a little bit Wendy, but maybe you can expound more and Liz you can speak to, you know, in what ways do you experience community or connection to others while you're running?

Wendy Porterfield  08:05

Yeah, I mean, like I said, you know, I alluded to, I come out of my runs happier than I was when I entered.  So I'm just a better wife and a better mom. So it actually facilitates connection with my family when I'm actively engaging in the practice of running. And of course, then there's the running community, I feel like there's something special, even if I'm just out in my neighborhood on my own running and there's somebody else who's running and we give each other a knowing look or a wave.  There's this special connection in the running community, like you know, you're in it together and you know what you're in, it's just a special thing. And then also for me, I do a lot of running with my husband or with my daughter and I push my daughter in a running stroller and she and I have sweet little times together playing little games while we're while I'm running.  She's riding and we're checking out all the things that are growing and all the little creatures running around and it's a fun exploration for us together of the outside world.  For my husband and I, great conversations while we're running. So it definitely facilitates connection to others and community for me.

Liz Kravitz 09:09

it definitely does and it helps me connect with people. I actually just got back from doing a Ragnar back east and we ran from the White Mountains to the ocean. And I got in a van with six other people who I had never met before in my entire life. It was the most amazing experience I've ever had. And it is that connection that Wendy was saying it's the running community. There's something special. There's something that you all experience together at this event. It's a relay race and so one van runs and the next van runs and you're dirty and tired and the van is messy van and you're just experiencing the highest highs that I could ever describe.   It’s just so awesome. So having the ability to just jump on a plane and go do something like that with a group of people is just so rewarding and amazing. 

So I love that we also have a road race in memory of my little brother which brings a running community together back in a small town just outside of Wooster, Massachusetts.  We  haven't had it for two years because of COVID and it's just been really hard to let go of that because everyone's so happy after they run and after they complete something.  It was like a celebration of his life in this community of runners and people who wouldn't normally run who wanted to, you know, remember and celebrate my brother would train for it and work really hard and feel so accomplished at the end. And I really think that brought my family together too, because we had, you know, this shared experience and this thing that we were working for, to have a way to celebrate him and so that's been a really amazing experience for us. And then just, you know, here in Madison, like you were saying, just running on you know, the bypass and it's people are always running in Madison so it's amazing you can be out in you know, the freezing cold and you can just feel that connection. And it's really cool. There's a lot of running groups here and things that you can get involved in, which is a great way to develop community.  I had a friend who I met here running years ago and she flew all the way to Rhode Island to come to my wedding and is still a dear friend and so there's a lot of community and running and you can find it really easily.

Christina Roberts  11:16

Yeah, I appreciate what both of you are saying and even that you entered into it with just an exercise mindset, right? Being healthy, being physical and how it's morphed into something a little bit more. And so I'm wondering what you might offer to someone who, you know, I think sometimes one of the things that as we're kind of companioning with people on their spiritual journeys, helping people to recognize that we don't have to connect with God in a box.  You don’t have to just be sitting in a chair reading scripture or praying or things like that, that we can use our bodies and have movement in different ways of connection.  So I'm wondering what you might offer to someone that maybe doesn't count running, thinks that it isn't “spiritual” or that I have to be doing these things for it to actually matter.  I wonder if you maybe have some words to offer for those folks.

Wendy Porterfield 11:56

Yeah, I think for me one thing that is so significant about being outside and running (and you don't even have to run to experience) you just have to get outside and move your body in some way, but it's the connection to creation.  If you're moving when you're outside throughout the whole year, you know.  There are seasons here and in the winter everything's dead and brown and white and you know, freezing. And it's not that fun to be out, at least for me. And then that first sign of life in the springtime you know, the first emergence of green captivates me and I cannot help but make parallels to the internal, my internal world. Like God where is the life that you're birthing in me?  Where is the green coming in the midst of dead places?  You know, and so there is such a connection for me between what I'm seeing, the life that's emerging, the life cycle of everything that's living and then the process that I'm going through, you know, internally. Or others in my life. And I can be with God in those places as I'm looking at what's around me.  So I think that's something that all of us can experience if we just, you know, get outside and move around and observe what you're seeing. And if you do that consistently over you know, the development of what's growing and living outside.

Liz Kravitz 13:23

Yeah, I love that.  I love to think about my life and seasons and I think that's like a really freeing thought that you know, I've taken from my spiritual journey over the past year and a half.  During COVID I've taken a picture at the same place that I run by a lot of all the different seasons and it's really powerful to like look back on it and look back on that hole that was winter, that was painful. And then as you know, spring comes and it starts bubbling and then summer where it's just so full. And it's this place on the water where the river meets the lake and they're like these overhang of trees, so it's just like a beautiful spot. And then in the fall as the the colors start to change, and it just feels so celebratory to me, and it feels like just like you know the picture of creation as you're saying. And it's again back to it's really helpful for me in my life because not every season is is joyful and exciting.  It just reminds me that after winter comes spring and you know after spring comes fall and just the periods of rest and the periods of like revival.  All this that I can see and I'm reminded of every day as I get out there and run and go through that process. So it's the freedom and it's the reminder and it's just all those little moments that you can see in nature wherever you are, in people.  I think as we've been talking about, like just passing other people on who are running and who are out there. You can kind of see who's feeling really energized and who's feeling like this is really hard for me today. And I just feel like there's something in that space of being able to relate to that person like, Oh, I felt like that yesterday or, yeah, I'm feeling really good today and you're feeling really good. And that's exciting. And I think that is just a picture of like, you know, God's creation and the way we each feel and experience different things in different seasons of like, so I think that's really powerful too.

Chris Roberts  15:23

Just as you guys are talking, I think something that comes up for me is this idea of oneness, right? Like a oneness with creation, a oneness with others. And Richard Rohr, who is a spiritual teacher, talks about the first incarnation was actually creation, being out in nature is actually being with God. And so I love what you guys are bringing up. So thank you for sharing.

Christina Roberts  15:47

Yes, and it's so fun to watch. This is the first time that Liz and Wendy have met each other. We're on zoom, for those listening, so it's so fun watching you react to each other, getting the energy from each other as you're sharing about your stories of running. So thank you so much for joining us. Again, this did not disappoint. And as a non-runner, I am inspired by your stories and your lives. So thank you so much for joining us.

Liz Kravitz & Wendy Porterfield 16:07

Thanks for having us.

Yeah, thank you so much.

Christina Roberts  16:16

What a fun conversation. Well, now we are going to transition to the part of our podcast where we talk about what we are into this week. 

Chris Roberts  16:25

Well, I am into volleyball. Not by choice. Both of my children are playing volleyball at school.  They only practice two days a week, so they're like, Dad, our first game was horrible. We've got to get better. We've got to learn how to serve, we got to learn how to bump. So we have gotten really good volleyball and we are all about practicing volleyball so they feel more confident about themselves for their weekend games. And let me just say there are a lot of weekend games. My weekends are taken for the next two months. 

Kristina Kaiser  17:05

Oh, that's amazing, because I think what I'm into right now is Soccer Sundays. So similar to volleyball, but a little different. Just different ways of using the ball. But yes, ours is only six weeks and we have two weeks to go. But we have found it to be a really fun way to spend our fall because we get done with our morning activities on Sunday and it's a bit of a rush, but then we just get to sit and be in nature and sometimes it can be a little humid or whatever. But there are days where there's such a beautiful breeze and the leaves are turning and the kids are playing and it feels exciting. And then the littles go off to the playground. So it's almost like Dominic and I are on a date and you know…But I am into Soccer Sundays. We have two left.

Christina Roberts  17:56

Okay, well I'm gonna switch things up. I am into no sports related things. I'm actually into baking and cooking with whole grains. Every so often I like to wander around the bulk aisle at our local Co Op. And look at the different grains that I either have never cooked with or maybe don't even know what it is. I had a friend many years ago who was super healthy, and she introduced me to spelt flour. And so I recently bought some pumpkin, getting ready to make some pumpkin bread with the spelt flour. And I thought you know what, I'm going to branch out and I got a new flour called einkorn. I actually heard a podcast about this flour from the person who created it. And so I am into exploring new baking and cooking opportunities with different types of whole grains. 

Thanks for joining us today. If you are looking to go deeper in your spiritual journey, we invite you to check out the spiritual direction page on our website, which includes even more practical information about spiritual direction and companioning. So until next time, make it a great week.