Trail Song

Music has always played an important role in my life. Running has also settled roots into the soil of my days. The two have grown together like string beans and corn to make a rich harvest that I feast on often. Standing at the trailhead, each path is like its own song, complete with a vast array of genres. The joy of trail running is becoming a part of that song and discovering its movements. I set out, one foot in front of the other, and weave my way along as the melody. I scamper around the trail like notes on the staff, climbing and descending, legato and staccato, steps chopping like eighth notes, suspended in a leap as the reverb settles. The trick of the dance then is to lockstep with what the terrain gives, for it is the foundation of the music. Once you achieve this, running is no longer a chore but a joyful delight.

Now, I don’t recommend listening to music when you trail run. There’s too much harmony coming from the woods to muddy it up with synthesizers. But if you’d like a sample to help you feel the flow, I would point you in the direction of something like Curtis Mayfield, Vulfpeck or Anderson .Paak. A kick drum and a funky horn section can do wonders. You can’t go wrong with basically anything that gives you the urge to dance. Want a tip from me on how to improve your running? Dance more. Running the trails, you’ve got to stay loose and sharp at the same time. Like dancing, it’s a whole-being experience, all elements awake and alert to the holy now that we all seek deep down. With your senses on fire with everything around you, your mind can become as quiet as the space between notes. It is why I find running so therapeutic.

I wonder what song the trails near you are playing? If you approached your next run like this, what would you hear? What could you transform an exercise into? Whatever it is, I bet it will have you coming back for more.

“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Click here to learn more about exploring the trails at Blackberry Mountain.