The worst piece of advice I ever got about running was “Keep your eyes on the horizon.”
It has taking me two years to figure out that this is bad advice. Very bad advice. I now blame it for much of my procrastination and existential dread of exercise. Now I’m thinking it may also have caused procrastination and existential dread of life.
The horizon is always receding. You never reach a horizon. Horizons are unattainable, limitless, and infinitely far away. Why would I rush out in the morning to run toward something I can never attain?
So recently I started focusing on the two or three feet in front of me, only glancing up to look for obstacles–passing cars, barking dogs, babies being pushed in strollers. I always say hello to dogs, babies, and other strangers.
It makes the time go faster and the distances grow shorter. I can manage the two or three feet in front of me. I can turn if I want. And no matter which way I turn, the horizon is always there anyway.
And I don’t worry about tripping.