Viewpoint: Leave your phone at home and just run

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This weekend, I did something I haven't done in years. 

I went on a run, and I didn't bring my phone. 

It was raining. It was just a two-mile run anyway. I knew I would be back in 20 minutes or less. 

Those first few steps phone and entertainment- and obligation-free felt awkward.  I caught myself listening for a notification and feeling like something was not right when I didn't hear anything.

Suddenly, I felt lighter. I found myself running faster and faster. Soon I was only thinking about running, and nothing else. I was only aware of my feet smacking the wet asphalt and the sound of my wet ponytail going "thwap thwap" against the back of my neck. 

While I wasn't completely technology free (I was wearing my Garmin watch), I willed myself to not look at the watch until it's beeping let me know I'd run a mile and it was time to turn around. I refused to look at my pace or how much time had elapsed. 

Suddenly, this run felt like the mind-altering runs I enjoyed in high school. Those first few years of runs that completely changed my life. 

Technology has enabled us to explore previously unknown places, prolonged our lives and made us more efficient. But, it's also trapped our brains into a cage of notifications and constant connection to the internet. In high school, my run was my escape. Now, what was an escape I've turned into another cage. 

I started running 12 years ago. Then, I had a cellphone, but tapping the internet button meant my mom might kill me for running up the phone bill. I only texted and called friends. My phone sent photos, but they were grainy and tiny. I could play some music on it, but the memory card had little room for songs. Plus, I had an iPod for that. I never thought to bring this device with me on a run. Ever. 

Now, I record 4K videos on my phone. I can live stream my life to the world from the palm of my hand. I can order food, translate languages, see the faces of far away friends in real time and watch live shows from this handheld supercomputer. 

Now, I talk to people on the phone when I run, I listen to music and podcasts, sometimes I even send emails on my runs. I've even broadcast my run live to Facebook. 

10 years ago, I would just run. No phone. Sometimes no iPod. No GPS watch reminding me to run faster. I didn't know how free I was. 

I like being able to call if something goes wrong. I also like being able to stream my favorite podcasts and music while I run, but I've decided I need more phone-free runs. It's good to just be. To just run. To not think about what could be in that email I just received. 

Next time, I may leave my GPS watch at home too. 

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