How running, meditation and love saved me from the bardo (On Running)

How running, meditation and love saved me from the bardo (On Running) describes a recovery journey after a major medical crisis. The author says they were out of training and communication for more than two months, following unexpected aortic surgery and a 37-day stay at Boulder Community Foothills Hospital before transferring to a rehab hospital in Thornton. They describe being unconscious for many days, with feeding through a tube, dialysis support, and multiple other tubes, while visits from friends and family became a central source of strength. The narrative references the “bardo” period with vivid dreams and accounts moments such as friends asking them to blink or squeeze a hand. The piece also credits the medical team, including surgeon Dr. Barry Platnick, and notes that long-distance running may have helped recovery by supporting energy production, according to information shared by doctors.