Adam Creason - Humans are made to flee

            As I sit in the campus gym writing this blog during my shift, just hours before I proceed to workout in said gym, I write about how important it is to not always exercise in a gym – one should consider the benefits of exercising in nature. While it would certainly be preferable for a human’s relationship with nature to always exercise outside, sometimes its not realistic. That being said, one should make every move to exercise outside when able. This is because exercise in nature is one of humanity’s most central processes.

                Just as much a part of nature as the dandelion or beetle or bobcat, humankind’s natural state is in the wild. A life in the wild consists of many challenges. Such life is not easy, which is why humans have increasingly separated themselves from nature for thousands of years. But, if you think about it, if I were thrown into the wild just as our distant ancestors were thousands of years ago, I would be hauling ass away from a chasing bear. If I saw a lion getting too entranced in my scent, I’d climb a tree somehow. If I was getting chased by a herd of zebras, I’d once again haul ass. If I were in an ancient village where the lives of myself and my family depended on my ability to hunt, I’d chase and tackle a deer if I needed to. This is all because our natural habitat is the wild. We are meant to be chased by huge animals. Our habitus, one could argue, includes such terrifying fear of being prey.

                Our natural state is thus to be running through the wild. Our cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory systems were created not to run on a treadmill, but to give us the ability to run away from predators. Our muscles were not created to be used in simple movements in a mirrored room, but instead were created to aid in the flight or in the defense of ourselves. Humanity’s natural state of ‘exercise’ is therefore to be hightailing it through nature. When running in nature I feel simultaneously free yet connected. Free from society and civilization as I flail through the trees; connected with nature as I feel the fresh air fill my lungs, and connect with this natural purpose of my cardio function. People must remember this primal state that humankind is derived from. We are not meant to be sheltered at all times. We are meant to brave the conditions of the wilderness. When one runs indoors, they rob themselves of this primal connection. While I thoroughly enjoy the gym, I make sure to exercise in nature often - it feels so natural. In fact, I do all of my cardio exercise outdoors because I cannot stand running on a treadmill that recreates the outdoors on the tiny little screen in front of me. Maybe one day I can create an outdoor gym with some dumbbells amongst the mango trees – now that’s my Arcadia.