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The Yogi Runner

October 15, 2008

Lately, I have been mixing philosophy with my running. It is not always a good thing, like when it paralyzes you in the Rosenzweigian sense--when real life experience becomes separated from philosophical wonderment. But as a whole I have been able to temper my reflection to a productive and manageable level.

As I continue training for the CIM marathon this December I begin to add the 20 mile runs, longer tempos I am starting to feel a refreshing feeling in my stride. Partly, because of the intentionality behind my running. I begin my recovery run with pushups, core, yoga and a short dance tribute to Chango; I finish my run with a 400m sprint at 1500m race pace up a steeply graded hill; then I cool down with more pushups, core, and dynamic stretching. The rigorous discipline of a patterned routine keeps me very satisfied with the process. I have decided to run for fun! I don't want my (miserable) fitness to detract from the sport that I love. It is my hope that if I love what I am doing, then the fitness will come, the success will come . . . if I don't enjoy what I am doing, I stress, or worse neglect my training, which both lead to apathy and injury. So I might just be re-beginning this journey, but at least I am enjoying being a beginner.

Today I began a metaphysical philosophy class on PRAXIS and method in religion, investigating the work of Franz Rosenzweig (died 1929). Rosenzweig critiqued Hegel's secular vision of the State, and offer a new vision of an integrated religious practice. Concurrently, I am investigating a method of integrating a religious perspective into my RUNNING. Borrowing from Schopenhauer and the East I find the YOGIC tradition to be a good model to harness health, happiness and peace of mind. As the self-proclaimed YOGI RUNNER, I preach the power of RUNNING MEDITATION. Although I have yet to gain immortal physical success with my new method, i.e. Gold Medal, titles and honors; I have gained a sort of ENLIGHTENMENT as defined by the eternal Kant and elaborated by Hegel--meaning immanent penetration into the life blood of my soul and the intricate web of nature.

I have been reading the Register Guard daily and tuning into the CNN coverage on the presidential debates along with millions of my fellow Americans. There is something about this election that seems so crucial to our future, which has kept me captivated. Although, a certain part of me remains contemptuous of what I perceive to be the vulgar gluttony of so many of my fellow Americans; I am equally disgusted at what I perceive to be the herdlike unanimity and cheerleading of our intellectual elite. As I blogged last month, I was impresed with Palin entrance into the political arena and McCain's maverick, if controversial approach; which riles both liberals and conservatives. However, the past weeks I have become a follower of Obama once more. His spiritual tone of optimism, coupled with inteligence and magnanimous stately stature is irresistable.

We need a spiritual leader who is political if we are going to change our disgusting American habits. And it is here in the realm of HABITS that I call the running world to action! Make health a meditation and inspire health as a meditation. And to the rest of you: Get off your fat ass!

God bless!

Gabriel



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D. McCuiston posted November 16 at 8:51am.
Hey Gabe. Enjoyed listening at Queens. A couple runners and I from Marvin Ridge High came and we appreciated it. Keep up with your training we'll be following your races. Loved the hunter/gatherer part.
David
Bobby posted November 3 at 2:45pm.
Love it
Peter posted November 3 at 12:36pm.
Gabe,
Your insights are very refreshing. I am a big fan of yours and admire your running and outlook on life. Keep up the good work!
Matthew posted October 25 at 11:15pm.
Great piece Gabe. I just directed The Long Green Line - a documentary about running guru Joe Newton. I have my own Yoga practice, and I'm interested in interviewing you for a piece I'm doing next - about the zen of running.

Please be in touch.
Robert Coe posted October 22 at 5:33pm.
trying again, since the powers-that-be don't seem to want me to do this: robert underscore coe at the h-t m-pl d-t c-m. That's how you can reach me.
Robert Coe posted October 22 at 5:32pm.
Oops, forgot the email address: . Cheers!
Robert Coe posted October 22 at 5:31pm.
Hey Gabe -- you really need to shoot me an email. You and I have more than one thing in common, but one of them is that I was the first Stanford freshman under 4:10, as you were the first under Four. I have written a book, JOCK: A Memoir of the Counterculture, about my time on The Farm, circa '68-'72. I was Stanford's top cross-country runner on numerous occasions (on a team that included Don Kardong and Duncan MacDonald), competed against Pre (who was six months younger than me), was around everything happening in track in those days -- as well as living a countercultural lifestyle that you may find interesting. Would love to hear from you: . Best of luck!
SR posted October 21 at 10:23am.
Gabe you are quite the character as always but through your elaborate writing I do feel you on the just running for fun. Just because someone is extraordinarily talented at something, does not require them to be "all or nothing" about it. Keep it rolling.
Everlong posted October 20 at 11:23pm.
Hugh they do award "metafizz" points...GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE...not based on times, but based on what is transcendent, supernatural and sometimes poetic. The guy that won the 2008 OLYMPIC MARATHON, ASAFA POWELL, Dave Wottle, MJ(not her), etc....the clock is just an outward extension of societies need to qualify everything(fearing the inadequacies of not being better then those before you).

Let go my friend, take off the watch:)
Hughbetcha posted October 20 at 6:17pm.
wtf? shut up and run.
too bad they time races, and don't award metafizz points...
Everlong posted October 20 at 3:30pm.
Paradoxically, I feel you Mr. Gabe....I had a thought this am about workouts...hmmm, so many to choose from, so many good coaches(and bad), so many schools of thought....but what if you just had "1" workout and that was all you did(one or twice a week) in additon to easy runs. I though it's not what you put into it, but what you get out of it...it doesn't matter hard or tempo, JFR(Just Freakin' Run). But it is your routine, your control, your environment and you take from it what you want and translate it how you wish. The sense of accomplishment is yours and yours only.

I do believe "we" have made everything(including running) more complex then it needs to be...the answers are simple and then exist only in your sole, although some have been transposed into books:)
Jon Campos posted October 20 at 1:08pm.
You are what you think you are-aren't-thus,want to be. And by who you let lead you...spiritual or otherwise. It is a basic concept of thought-as is thought a concept. So, its a never ending circle, but if you find joy in it even for a bit...
btw-it is (we) who create 'our disgusting American habits' we contstantly feed into them. Not mocking here-just responding.
Doug Storey posted October 20 at 11:49am.
Good on ya gabe. Keep looking beyond the normal and I look forward to more of your blog.

“Find your place on the planet. Dig in, and take responsibility from there.”
Gary Snyder
Long Live the Weeds and The Wilderness
Doug
Trackfan93 posted October 19 at 5:26pm.
dude you are crazy as hell

http://www.AlanKeyes.com
Rusty Snow posted October 17 at 9:08am.
Hi Gabe, my wife and I saw you in 2000 win the OT's and then waited eagerly for your comeback and cheered you loudly this year in Eugene. We also saw you speak at the film festival in Eugene.
We are big fans and psyched you decided to continue the sport.
We are also race director's of the upcoming (December 6, 2009) Santa Barbara International Marathon and Half Marathon and would love your presence! We are aiming for a world class race (at least in time) and a focus on developing American runners. Anyway, love to talk to you more about it sometime...Good luck in Cal!!
Best,
Rusty
Anonymous Coward posted October 17 at 6:45am.
Me thinks he is trying a bit too hard to set himself apart, or convince someone (himself perhaps) of his intellectual superiority. Because this is over-the-top.
Chris posted October 16 at 9:58pm.
"a dance tribute to the Chango" priceless
Egun posted October 16 at 6:33pm.
the difference between a rat and a squirrel -- a good publicist.

keep reinventing yourself YOGIC -- it is hysterically funny -- but careful, you are perilously close to becoming the lindsay lohan of running.
All Over The Map posted October 16 at 1:50pm.
"look how smart i am look how smart i am. accept me! respect my genius!" focus, grasshopper. take the names and concepts you are learning and process them into your own thoughts. don't try to impress me by dropping impressive sounding names and mysterious sounding concepts that you think no one else has ever heard of. please don't try to convince me that you are intellectually elite. those who say _new_ things after thinking _new_ things are eligible to join that club. those who make cases for themselves usually don't belong. "If you have to tell a lady she is... She probably ain't."
Scott Wilkinson posted October 16 at 10:01am.
"Today I began a metaphysical philosophy class on PRAXIS and method in religion, investigating the work of Franz Rosenzweig (died 1929). Rosenzweig critiqued Hegel's secular vision of the State, and offer a new vision of an integrated religious practice." Best laugh I've had in quite a while! Thanks, Gabe.
Mortal Kombat posted October 16 at 8:07am.
Dude, Gabe is the man. He is by far the most interesting person I have ever watched race. Way to go Gabe and good luck with everything!
Bhagwan posted October 16 at 7:00am.
"get off your fat ass" has just a ring of anger in it. please meditate a with a pure heart.
PolarBear posted October 15 at 10:53pm.
Gabe, we love you but, uh, trying to integrate 19th century germanic romanticism and political theory into a yogic approach to running? Kind of a stretch. Maybe better to leave Hegel out of the mix (who, by the way, was not entirely secular in his concept of the state - references to religous edifices and symbols are frequent in his texts).
Candice Chavez posted October 15 at 9:54pm.
I really enjoyed reading this blog. I like philosophy and I like yoga :)
Danny Mackey posted October 15 at 9:50pm.
Good luck in your final prep before CIM.

I like what you have to say man.
GREG MOORE posted October 15 at 9:18pm.
Gabe i never post on here butthat was awesome.
cary on the way u are going, your blog kinda gave me a fresh perspective on things.

Gabe for prez!
Daniel Shellhouse posted October 15 at 9:03pm.
Gabe you continue to amaze me. Keep on blogging. I truly enjoy it.
Encouraged posted October 15 at 8:06pm.
It is encouraging to read your thoughts on combining the physical with the spiritual in our sport. The more we Americans see that balance comes from combining both spiritual and physical, the less we will allow ourselves to be enslaved by the fabrications of opinions, must have material excesses and fleeting feel good fixes as doled out regularly through most American media....TV, print, Billboard, radio and web** etc., Keep up running, thnking and sharing
**this excludes Flotrack which is light years ahead of most media.
John posted October 15 at 8:04pm.
you are my hero gabe
Rump Roast posted October 15 at 8:03pm.
gabe, your refreshing. this essay/blog inspired me. keep working hard. hard work will never fail you.
Jake posted October 15 at 7:50pm.
gabes the man
Dan Knewitz posted October 15 at 6:10pm.
In response to the comment made below, how is this guy a jackass, and what exactly do you mean by "bull?"

While running may be "our" sport, that does not mean it cannot mean something uniquely special with each individual. For many people, running is a great tool that fuels introspection and meditation. It is a sport in which you can run with your personality. Given this fact, someone's passionate views, be they political or whatnot, may be central to their feelings about running. Likewise, if you are a more "simple-minded" individual (no offense is intended) then running may be a different experience for you. All the same, it is "your" experience.
Scot Sedley posted October 15 at 5:50pm.
Gabe, I disagree with your endorsement for President, but I love watching you run and reading your writing. Keep this up, and maybe at some point give us an update on The Olympic Militia film. Word?
Go Gabe!! posted October 15 at 5:36pm.
good luck in the marathon!!! intelligent words my friend, and yes GO OBAMA!!!!!! Boo mccain!
Anonymous Coward posted October 15 at 5:24pm.
this guy is a jackass, no need to bring this bull to our sport
Joe Durango posted October 15 at 4:42pm.
What a dedicated and committed runner! The most important part of strenuous running is what's
going on upstairs in the mind -- handling the pain, sticking to a strategy, being true to pacing yourself.
Studying philosophy must contribute to control of the senses. But I'd like to comment that even
if running in meets does not lead to victory, it does lead to better health and a longer life and that in
and of itself should be reason enough to race. Greg, you are an inspiration.
Poopscooper posted October 15 at 4:38pm.
But I just misspelled misspell, so we're even.
Poopscooper posted October 15 at 4:37pm.
He mispells intelligence and irresistible in the same sentence.
Morgan Sjogren posted October 15 at 3:53pm.
Well put! Your quest for enlightenment shows how much running can say about life and that there is more to life than just running! Good luck!
A.j Hoe posted October 15 at 3:50pm.
such big words , spark note please
Anonymous Native posted October 15 at 3:49pm.
This blog is overflowing with golden wisdom. The last post nearly brought me to tears. As for this post, I couldn't agree more with the assessments.
Anonymous Coward posted October 15 at 3:38pm.
Gabe Jennings is sweet, good luck at the marathon
Jeremy Becraft posted October 15 at 3:34pm.
Good luck with your Marathon. Your comments about the election are fair and balanced. You have complimented both campaigns, which shows to me that you are really listening to what each has to say. All of the negative comments down below are just weak attempts to bring you down. Good luck with all that you do.
Anonymous Coward posted October 15 at 2:11pm.
People actually still watch CNN?
Vot McCain/Palin posted October 15 at 2:05pm.
Thank you very much but my a$$ is not fat.
Boo Boo Runner posted October 15 at 2:04pm.
Is this guy for real?
Horatio posted October 15 at 2:02pm.
Huh?
Kyle Selsor posted October 15 at 1:49pm.
off rush
Allen Wagner posted October 15 at 1:48pm.
Good Luck at CIM
Sunshine Karch posted October 15 at 1:24pm.
The problem it seems with our system, is that individual that is both a spiritual and political leader neither will be accepted as a candidate or taken seriously. the fact is that we want an individual that says he is spiritual but is truly dead inside. i like where you are coming from man. Running is an exercise of the spirit and you seem to explore and grasp that.

About Gabe Jennings

Gabe Jennings has always “run” to the beat of his own drum. After becoming an Olympic Trials 1500 meter champion in 2000, and representing the United States in Sydney, Gabe suddenly took a hiatus from the sport. Following, a 6,000 mile bike ride to South America, featuring many adventures, Gabe began a comeback in the sport in 2006. Supported by the shoe sponsor Saucony, Gabe’s return to the track has been very successful. In 2007 he finished 3rd in the US championships indoor mile, and most recently had a strong 2008 campaign where he won several Oregon twilight meets and made the finals of the Olympic Trials 1500 meter race. Gabe continues to be an elite middle distance runner and one of the most intriguing individuals in the sport.

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