Leaderboard

Check me out, second in my Nike + leader board for running in March. That is the highest position that I have ever reached and that is without the miles from the Mighty Deerstalker. Wouldn't have mattered if they were included as the person at number 1 is at about twice the mileage that I am at. I decided to get up early and go for a run as Saturday's run was halted due to the blizzard like conditions. It is the first time that I have been running by myself for about 3 months. I had forgotten how difficult it is to motivate myself to get out for a run when I am not meeting anybody else, especially when it is absolutely Baltic outside and still snow on the ground. So much easier when you know that a buddy is waiting for you.

Yesterday we had the usual post RPM banter via our group's Facebook page and somebody made the comment along the lines that it was just an exercise class. This got me thinking and wondering if it really is just another form of keeping in shape and spending some time listening to good tunes with like minded folk. I truly believe that RPM is not just another exercise class, trust me I have done a lot of different classes. It really does produce in me, and I suppose in others, an altered state where strange things start to happen. Reality starts to bend and my mind empties of all the kerfuffle, noise and chaos that usually resides there. It is like Dumbledore is holding his wand against my head and siphoning off my troubles and worries into the Pensieve. If I could compare it to anything then I would say that it would be like the altered state that one can be put into via shamanic drumming and trance drumming. In reality RPM class is not any different than this, your heart rate is elevated moving along to highly rhythmic soundscape. We even do this sometimes in the dark with the disco lights on which creates an even better atmosphere to abandon the 'here and now' and journey deep inside yourself.

Maybe it is just a class to some, but for me it is a truly spiritual experience and is more therapeutic than any other form of exercise that I do.