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In his essay, IS RUNNING A RELIGION, Dr. George Sheehan makes that point that running is a place, not a system of belief.\xa0 Running gives us an opportunity to renew ourselves while we\u2019re out there on the road: both psychologically and spiritually.\nI\u2019ve heard that phrase before: \u201cRunning is your religion\u201d and it makes about as much sense as the phrases \u201ccooking is your politics\u201d or \u201csinging is your manifesto\u201d.\xa0 \nEvery time you go out for a run, you are given an opportunity to commune with yourself, with your thoughts and with your God.\xa0 The sins of yesterday are forgiven on the roads; that extra slice of pizza you couldn\u2019t help inhale; the frustration turned outward anger you expressed at someone who didn\u2019t deserve the outlash is suppressed, your soul is made calm, your body serves it\u2019s good purpose\u2026running takes you to a place that cannot be defined by latitude and longitude.\nAs you run, you develop the deepest commitment; the most serious mind\u2026your mind begins to focus on \u201cwhere you are and what you are doing\u201d.\nAnd it does you no good to visit this physical monastery only a few times in your life, or on random occasions when you have the time.\xa0 You have to visit this place called \u201crunning\u201d often; almost everyday if you can.\xa0 \nIn other words: If you want to take with you, through the course of your life, the positive benefits of our sport: you have to constantly renew yourself out there on the road. \nFor those of us who believe in God, running is an opportunity for prayer.\xa0 You don\u2019t have to always pray in quiet places or on Holy Ground.\xa0 When you\u2019re out there, running at the perfect pace, feeling the sweat coat your body and moving with the breeze in your face\u2026you are being the good animal you were meant to be; but more than that: you\u2019re performing an act that your body was evolved to perform.\xa0 \nThis is the perfect place to have a conversation with God.\nWhen you run, you are acting more human; and as a homo sapian, or thinking man: you are in community both with God, the creator of heaven and earth and with nature and the universe all around you.\nDr. Sheehan makes this point very clearly: Running is a place to commune with God and yourself, it\u2019s a place for psychological and spiritual renewal.\nRunning is NOT a religion.\xa0 It is in its very essence: a place.\nShow Links:\n** WARNING **\nThis episode ends with another angry (some might say \u201cpsychotic\u201d) diatribe as I lash out against the babbling hate-speak of a self righteous bigot who has the audacity to call himself a Christian.\nAs far as I\u2019m concerned, Pat Robertson can go to hell.\n\nPlease pray for the people of Haiti.\nThe song\xa0 \u201cHey Kate\u201d by The Fire Apes