The Perfect Run

by Eleni Barbetsea
(Scotland)

THE PERFECT RUN

Coach Reno and Susan (life partner) inspired me to sit down and write what I feel is the perfect run for me.

The truth is that I am not after the contest prize offered by Distance Running Tips. If I can touch your hearts and spirits then I feel I will feel like a winner. If, However, I am fortunate enough to receive the prize then I would respectfully request to donate this prize to another fellow runner. Because the fact that I am given the opportunity to share with you my thoughts, feelings and experiences is the best prize of all and by sharing it with you it will make it worth while.

But let me introduce myself. My name is Lady Hermes and this name relates to my running identity. My real name is Eleni. My mother always said to me that I ran before I walked. So for as long as I can remember myself running has been an important part of my life and part of my identity.

I now need to return to the subject matter and what a perfect run means to me. I am a great believer that the perfect run as I have experienced it comes from Inside and it is not external. It is unique to all and each one of us for the many million reasons we all relate to it. It has no attachment to Gold, Silver or Bronze, or to any material prize or other because it is not the outcome that matters in a perfect run, but the journey there. The longer the journey the more perfect the run.

If I could use 4 words to describe what perfection means to me here is how it goes. - Harmony, Freedom, Peace and Love. Every time I felt I had a perfect run I experienced harmony between my Mind, Body and Soul, Freedom from all earthy demands and peace inside as a form of cleansing and also Love. Love for God, Love for people and Love for the Universe. In a perfect run there is no room for negative thoughts and the soul becomes free from the stress of earthy and trivial matters. A perfect run is a spiritual experience and this is why it has to come from inside.

One has to rise above others expectations to achieve the perfect run. No one else can set the parameters to create the perfect run for you and I. It is all of us and each one of us that have to earn it in our own way within our own weaknesses and strengths. Of course we need to use the right tools for the body so to allow 'this vehicle' to take us to that level of experience of the perfect run. The gift for a Good Coach is to tell us how to use these tools but equally to understand what we try to achieve via running. So, we can reach for help but this is only the means to our goal for the perfect run not the aim.

When I have a perfect run I can easily cry from happiness and feelings of bliss. It is the most amazing feeling and achievement. Harnessing the body weaknesses and become strong inside makes all the difference.

Sharing these thoughts with you it is very powerful indeed.

I composed this as I was actually running just half an hour ago. I decided to do a short run tonight after a tough workout yesterday. So, as I was running I thought of coaches’ words and there I went into the depths of my soul. I lost track of time, distance, speed/pace the only thing that mattered was the need to communicate to you my experiences about the Perfect Run. By the time I had arrived home I had not realised or seen what was going on around me. I was within Me and my feelings, thoughts and my own journey.

And instead of coming home as usual to quickly shower and prepare the dinner here it is me writing to you because this is what I needed to do first.

The Perfect Run is an amazing experience. It is a Big Word to say but the moment Harmony, Love, Peace and Freedom come together and co-exist (this it might be seconds but also eternity at the same time) then I could sacrifice my life for running and have no fear of nothing. Then I thank God for allowing me to run and experience the bliss. This is what I call The Perfect Run.

I hope I will have the experience to share with some of you this article and if I have managed to relate to your experiences in any way and touch some corner in your hearts then it means that I have win my own special prize.

Thank You
And I wish you Many Happy Runs and why not Perfect Happy Runs.

With Love and Respect
Lady Hermes