Listen to “S02E33: Running PUNK!” on Spreaker.
I know, it is not easy or immediate to put punk and running together. These are two things that seem to have nothing in common: the former is a culture that was born in the 1970s and developed until the early 1980s that seemed to have little (nothing, really) of the health-conscious, while the latter has all the characteristics to be ascribed to the sphere of wellness and health.
We did not juxtapose punk and race for this, of course. The fact is that lately we find ourselves thinking more and more about something free of the box and revolutionary (but always in a good way) and thinking, “Hey, but this is definitely punk!”
In fact, to investigate the roots of that cultural phenomenon (or subculture, for some) one finds that, beyond the outward manifestations such as the way of dressing and the words used, punk is essentially an expression of freedom. Done in a particularly explosive and boisterous mode, okay, but still it is freedom.
How do you combine this attitude in running? It is simpler than you might think: what is more freeing than running in fact? You decide the timing, you are alone with yourself, you can follow the path that appeals to you most. Thus, we are not talking about running that follows charts and aims to improve times and performance. Punk running is the opposite: it has no timing, no tracks, it follows feeling and curiosity, because the punk runner, who by definition does not follow anyone but if anything precedes and opens new paths, traces the path.
As did the heroes of punk, one of whom – Joe Strummer, leader of the Clash – was, however, also a marathon runner: in fact, he ran two editions of the London Marathon (1981 and 1983) and Paris, in 1982.
Check out these unseen photos of Joe Strummer running the 1983 London Marathon
In short, the punk race is the one with no agenda and no direction: decide in the moment, by feel. You don’t know where it will take you-and in fact it is not at all useful if you want to prepare for a race-but it can introduce you to new paths both physically and mentally (no, we are not inviting you to take drugs to do it). If running is about pushing your limits, punk running opens up new avenues for you to do so: they may not be the ones where you do your personal best, but they will certainly be the ones where you discover parts of yourself you didn’t know you had. Those of the curious and those who want to be amazed by life, always.
Run punk, run without rules and without direction. Every now and then it just does a lot of good.
Have you sent your Lovers Mail yet?
In recent weeks we launched the second season of Lovers Mail. Participate and tell your story in our Outlaw podcast-just write it down and send it to info@runlovers.it.
It is so easy and once a month we will collect the best ones and read and comment on them during a special episode. We are not interested in the chronicles of the races but in the flow of thoughts and reflections that accompany us when, one step after another, we run.
What are you waiting for to send it to us?
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It is perfect listening for any time: while running, traveling, relaxing, stretching, or during a romantic runner’s dinner. ;)
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(Photo by Mikkel Bech on Unsplash)