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Comment by akvadrako | Hacker News Reader

> Walking works for me because I can listen to new music and podcasts or sometimes just go through my mental monologue backlog without any stress.

That's why I like running.

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Any sort of intense exercise makes it impossible for me to actually think or concentrate on listening. It's a heightened state in many ways biochemically and is very different from the calm that walking gives.

Running would just make what I'm listening to background noise, but that's not the correct level of engagement I want. I want 'exercise' to be the side effect and not the main activity I'm engaging in. Running is the other way around.

You could try running significantly slower (jogging, ~10 min/mi pace). Worked well for me.

Yes this is actually an important factor that is often overlooked.

For the longest time i ran really fast to the point of exhaustion, ,sometimes with small pauses interval style.

Then i tried running slower, which was actually hard for me for some reason, but could go much longer, and with less tax on my sympathetic nervous system and joints.

I've also seen people do the "powerwalking" thing so that's also an option.

Have you tried running on CBD?

Explain?

Running high

Use CBD (from cannabis) tincture in the mouth, or loose leaf vaporized, before and after running, can reduce recovery time and inflammation.

I think you are running too fast. For years I detested running because of what you mentioned as well as it just draining me mentally. My mistake was trying to kill myself on every run. Now I run significantly slower- by the end of most of my runs I am not even breathing heavily. This is actually recommended, as well

My dad is a competitive runner and ultramarathoner (now well into his 60s). One of his favorite sayings is ‘how do you know if you’re a runner? If you don’t think about running while doing it.’ I finally got into it too, and for me/us it’s much more like meditation. Or taking a hot shower. I let my mind wander, come up with most of my best ideas, and generally don’t think much about running while out there.

If you can’t do this you’re probably running too fast for your fitness level. I was for a long time.

That's interesting. I don't usually think about running while running. And I do find the state somewhat meditative, especially since I find I usually observe my breathing and the sound of my feet on the ground.

But this feels more like a "trance" to me, in that I seem to not actively think about anything at all, I just "observe".

I generally can't think coherently if I'm doing a 9mph interval for a short time (this is 170-180bpm heart rate territory for me) but I actually prefer that mental state. I wish I could get that same mindset at my lower speed (5-6mph) because the time melts away. It feels like a flow state in a good way but with no focus.

I agree, and also find it meditative. I also feel like your thoughts engage differently when running. Some of the most incredible conversations I've ever had have been on long runs (marathon training, so multi-hour runs) with a friend - at some point you just start sharing and releasing vulnerability, and discuss things you would never talk to each other about otherwise (for clarity, not because it might be an embarrassing topic, but rather just very internal).

A neighbor's son runs cross country for his high school. She quoted him last fall or winter as saying that he didn't miss the classroom, he missed the conversations on long training runs. It has been a long time (maybe 35 years) since I did much running with anyone, but I do remember conversations.

When reading about improving sleep, it seems the evidence points toward rhythmic exercise being important. The repetition of running and swimming seems to help (vs say interval training).

> I want 'exercise' to be the side effect and not the main activity I'm engaging in. Running is the other way around.

What I meant is for me running is the background and it's mostly automatic. I can listen or think about things and they are my primary focus.

I'd say it takes a few months to get to this level but for most people it's doable.

You should try running slower at a conversational pace. It's much more aerobic at that pace, and is more meditative and more stress-relieving than stressful.

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