On Release OFF: A Magazine For Disconnection
Ask a top athlete, or a leader in any field for that matter, and they’ll tell you that taking time to reflect, recover, and explore isn’t time away from the work. It is the work- opens issue #1.
I realise the irony in this as I stare gormlessly at my screen, typing away whilst my “blue-light glasses” try convince me that they have everything under control: my lack of movement for hours on end, my gradually slumping posture and my almost hourly check to see what’s going down on Twitter or Instagram. You see, as much as we like to think it is easy, disconnection is the very opposite. Putting away all screens, going outside and getting lost for a sizeable amount of time requires practice and for me, routine.
In On’s latest foray into what I’m calling On Does Cool Marketing Things, they have released OFF. An “escape hatch from the frenzy of a digital world”. And it’s not just about running. Within, they explore everything from phone-free nightclubs in Berlin, to The Sensory Solitude of Swimming. All presented beautifully bound and suitable for any runner’s coffee table. But unlike most coffee table books or magazines, this one’s worth reading.
One of the more touching stories inside, is that of Mike Key, a well-established production manager in the fashion world. An industry that in years gone by, has been renowned for its cut-throat and relentless nature. Key speaks of reaching a turning point during lockdown where he wanted to something impactful away from the hustle and bustle of his work. And it was running that came to the rescue, not just by raising valuable funds for charity but for unintentionally becoming an outlet for mental health conversations. Key runs a half-marathon every week, which was born out of surprise stroke at the age of 26 and the subsequent recovery. Where he would once would spend evenings in the pub, he now laces up and reaps the social aspects that come with running.
This is one of many thought-provoking stories and points of view, coupled with stunning photography. You can get your hands on OFF at On-Running.com.
We can’t wait for issue #2.
