cover image Mindful Thoughts for Runners: Freedom on the Trail

Mindful Thoughts for Runners: Freedom on the Trail

Tessa Wardley. Leaping Hare, $9.99 (160p) ISBN 978-1-78240-764-5

Wardley (The Mindful Art of Wild Swimming) combines mindfulness and running in this intuitive but slight work. In these 25 essays, Wardley proposes many ways to enliven and deepen one’s running routine, such as running “creatively” (by mentally “releasing the flow” of sensations as one runs), running “free” (for pleasure, without measurements or goals), and running as “ritual” (to build confidence or start a new routine). A compendium of pithy reflections usher runners through ways to more mindfully enjoy the outdoors regardless of the weather, and also how to better deal with injuries. Wardley never gets too deep with any of these ruminations, which is a bit of a blessing and curse; while the brief musings are digestible and simple to consider, they sometimes skim the surface of rich topics including the rituals of running, embracing pain, and the connection between running and wilderness. Despite this, anyone interested in making exercise more intentional and meaningful will benefit from Wardley’s compact collection of reflections. (Dec.)