Running as the Red Thread of My Life 🌱⏳
I’m Matjaž, and I currently live in Domžale, a place where nature is still close enough to be part of everyday life. My relationship with running didn’t start with big goals or a conscious decision—it began completely spontaneously. Already in first grade, while training in football ⚽, running was part of practices and part of the game. Back then, I didn’t think of running as a special activity—it was a natural part of movement and growing up.
Throughout all stages of my life, while engaging in various sports, running has always been present. Sometimes in the background, sometimes more intensely, but always as a foundation. Running has connected strength, endurance, and discipline 💪, while teaching me persistence and how to listen to my body. Over the years, my relationship with running has evolved, but it has never disappeared.
Today, I run recreationally, once or twice a week, without competition and without external pressures. Running in nature 🌳, along the river 💧 and among the trees, is my way of connecting with myself and maintaining general fitness. It has become part of my life rhythm, something that accompanies me regardless of other obligations.
Sometimes running is complete silence, almost meditation 🧘♂️. Other times, it’s a space where thoughts, ideas, and creative flashes emerge effortlessly ✨.
One Hour Without Pace, Without Numbers 🕰️🧭
During my runs today, no external motivation guides me. I don’t use apps, track kilometers, or check my pace. My inner goal is very simple: to run for at least 60 minutes. No questions about speed or distance, no need to prove anything. The only thing that matters is time in motion.
I wear a classic analog watch with hands, so I never know exactly how many kilometers I’ve run. This unawareness gives me freedom 🕊️ and frees me from the pressure that measurements and comparisons often bring. Running becomes more genuine, more direct, and more connected to how my body feels.
Sometimes the rhythm carries me, and I go beyond the hour without noticing. Other times, fatigue or an inner struggle appears. Then I calmly tell myself:
“Hold it for one hour.”
And that’s enough.
I prefer running in the morning, on an empty stomach 🌅, when the body is unburdened, the mind calmer, and nature is just waking up. Domžale offers beautiful paths along the river and greenery, so no special preparation is needed. After the run, stretching is a must—a final touch, like a period at the end of a sentence 🔁.
I run in all weather conditions and especially enjoy running on work days, as it gives me a clearer and calmer start to the day 😊.
Running as a Silent Moving Meditation 🧘♂️🌬️
At this stage in my life, running means primarily a silent meditation without thoughts. It is no longer about results or improving performance but about the process itself. It’s a time to consciously connect with breathing, the rhythm of steps, and the surroundings 🌬️🌲. Movement becomes simple and natural.
During runs, thoughts gradually quiet, breathing deepens, and attention shifts to the present moment. Running allows me to switch off mental noise and reconnect with my body. There is no need to analyze or plan—just awareness of movement and breath.
I don’t seek running fitness because I know it comes naturally as a result of regular movement. I am also aware that longer or more intense runs would require professional support and a more structured approach 📚. But that is not my intention right now.
For what running means to me today—a relaxed, conscious moving meditation in nature—this approach suits me perfectly 🤍. No competition, no proving, no finish line.
Running is no longer a challenge.
It’s not a number.
It is breath,
it is movement,
it is one hour of silence, regeneration, and connection with oneself.