Last Sunday I ran the farthest distance I have ever tackled, and the entire time I couldn’t believe I am just… doing it. Just like that!
Let’s back up for a moment.
You’re Telling Me Running Can Be Fun?!
It’s been three years since I started running, and it didn’t come naturally to me. I discovered, almost by accident, that when I let go of the preconceptions I had about running, it can truly be enjoyable.
My main reason for running, the intention behind it, is that joy. Over the years, it has helped my mental health in ways I cannot even describe because I never knew it was possible. Running helped me overcome a disordered relationship with food, it taught me to love my body – finally, in my thirties!
I am writing all of this to convey that racing was never my primary motivation. I’d enter a running event here and there, enjoy the views, get my medal, go home feeling good about myself.
However, as the distances increased, I had to shift toward a more conscious training to protect and nourish my body, to ensure longevity for my running journey. Right now, I am training for a gorgeous 50k trail race on the Curonian Spit, which would probably make the past me scoff in disbelief.
Last Sunday, as I was running my longest distance yet – 25k or just over 15 miles – the major thought that kept spinning through my mind is that, somehow, I am not struggling. Somehow, my body is going through the motions, my breathing is under control, my vision is clear.
From Single Drops to an Ocean
And that, my friends, is the power of incremental changes. Looking back, it’s incredible to see how far I’ve come, both literally and metaphorically.
It’s a gratifying feeling. It’s a feeling that I want to hold onto, to be able to reassure myself when the progress is slow, or when times are tough.
This applies to so much more than running or physical exercise. For every skill you’ve ever gained, acknowledge how much you’ve improved, one step at a time.
This also applies in times of grief and emotional distress. At the time, it may feel like you’re drowning and you’ll never see the light again. And yet, day by day, there is a subtle shift. Until one day, you notice that you’re breathing with ease and quietly smiling to yourself.
