Running can change your life in beatiful, indirect ways.

I’ve just come back from a lovely Saturday morning nine-mile run. Just another day, just another run:

The idea for this story came while I was running. I write a lot about running, so it feels almost trivial to mention how I thought about writing about running while running. Yet there I was — my mind in its usual state of semi-meditation during running. So, I’ll start with my mind:

• Your mind will expand. Sounds like I’m talking about illegal drugs. But I mean it. It’s a very profound effect. When I run, I don’t think about anything. My mind goes blank. And yet, I am super creative. Isn’t there a contradiction between these several statements? Perhaps, but that’s the magic: detaching yourself from the world and, at the same time, connecting with the world in a very magnified way. The world includes yourself, so you’re connecting with yourself, too.
• You will really appreciate your food. On Saturday mornings, like today, I often run on an empty stomach. I wouldn’t say there is some profound logic or science behind this routine. The idea is that you make your body work a little harder, metabolizing the less accessible fuel. After coming back, I brewed coffee and had two portions of oatmeal with honey. I want to find the right words to describe how much I enjoyed my breakfast, but it’s a struggle! Pure…