One of the biggest lessons I learned in 2023 was coming to terms with what I want from my running.
I’ve been running consistently for about seven years and the impact it’s had on me has been life changing. … Running is critical to my mental health, as well as physical. It’s how I work through feelings and difficult situations. It’s how ideas come to me and even how I write (so often I “draft” these posts in my head while running). It’s how I’ve met friends and found community. It’s led me to new avenues like coaching.
All that said, I often found myself plagued with anxiety and self-doubt before certain races and running events. And while it’s normal to have nervousness before a race, the mental tailspin I would find myself in was more than run-of-the-mill nerves and always led me to a place where the joy was lacking.
This year, my friend helped me really dig in and ask myself what running means to me and measure that against what I’m actually getting from the races I signed up for. And if those races do not contribute to what running gives me, then I need to step away from events that take me away from myself.
Realizing this really made me focus on what I want from running/races going forward. …
I am most at peace when I’m running on roads, in my local parks and community (rather than on trails) as that gives me the ability to tune the rest of the world out so I can zone in on myself and my thoughts.
I am most at peace running half marathons and marathons, not the ultramarathon distances that keep me “out there” for hours on end.
And I am most at peace when I’m running for ME — at whatever pace, mileage or distance that moves me on a particular day.
All this is not to say I don’t have goals for myself. I absolutely do! But running has never been about racing for me. So I am choosing to only sign up for events/races that bring me joy (not anxiety), and do not lead me away from my true self.
Running is a gift that continues to give me so much. It has saved my life in many ways. … Onward to 2024!