Running with Awareness – Lessons from Lawrence van Lingen
Out there on a long climb, with breath and heartbeat in sync, you start to notice the small things: a footfall, a shoulder twinge, a shift in breath. That’s not just fatigue—that’s your body whispering. Or yelling. I’ve started listening more.
Lawrence van Lingen
One of the people helping me hear better? Lawrence van Lingen.
A former competitive triathlete turned movement specialist, Lawrence works with elite athletes and everyday runners to unlock better movement. He’s not about fixing your glutes or tweaking your cadence—he’s about helping you move better by thinking, moving, and feeling more clearly.
His approach is fascia-focused, nervous-system aware, and completely in tune with longevity. In other words: perfect for trail runners who care about more than just splits.
Think. Move. Feel.
Here’s what’s stuck with me from diving into his content:
- Breath is everything. It shapes posture, regulates effort, and signals safety to your system. Before pace, there’s breath.
- Fascia matters. He talks about the body as a tensegrity structure, not a bunch of isolated muscles. When one part is locked, everything compensates.
- Awareness before correction. Don’t rush to fix things. Feel them first. Then move from there.
This resonated. I don’t run trails to dissociate—I run to connect. And his framework reinforced that.
How this changed my running
I’ve started treating long runs like moving meditations.
- I scan my form now on descents: Am I clenching my jaw? Is my breath stuck? Where are my hips pointing?
- I’ve shifted from forcing pace to letting posture lead effort.
- And weirdly… I feel faster. Not just on the watch, but in the flow. It’s like I’ve given my body permission to run the way it actually wants to.
The result? Less pain. More play.
Running as return
Van Lingen’s work reminded me of my reason to run trails.
Not to escape.
But to return.
To nature, to presence, to myself.
We spend so much time reaching—mileage, metrics, medals. But there’s something deeply powerful about tuning in instead. That’s where sustainability lives. That’s where the long game begins.
A quick practice
Next time you’re on the trail:
- Ditch the data screens.
- Tune into your breath—try a long, slow exhale.
- Feel your feet, your spine, your face.
- Let your form adjust naturally. Let your body lead.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be present.
Watch the series
Lawrence has a short YouTube series that captures his approach perfectly:
- Backward walking – The Benefits of Backward Walking for Hip Health and Running Performance.
- Flow rope – Discover How Flow Rope Can Improve Your Movement.
- Breathing fundamentals – The Foundation of Movement, Mind & Nervous System Health.
- Crawling patterns in gait – Unlock hip mobility, restore pelvic floor function, and support nervous system regulation.
Highly recommended if you’re curious, frustrated, or just ready to feel different in your stride. More from Lawrence at lawrencevanlingen.com.
You are not a machine. You are a living, sensing, flowing system. Run like it.
