Why I Started Running

If you had asked me a year ago if I’d be running *for fun* at any point in my life, I’d have laughed in your face. Anytime anyone told me they were training for a marathon (heck, even a 10km) I’d be impressed then change the conversation because there was no way I could ever entertain that thought.

But then I did entertain that thought. A friend was visiting from Whistler and she convinced me to go for a 5-kilometre run at her cottage. I did, and throughout the entire run, I didn’t think I’d be able to finish. I hated every 33 minutes of those 5-kilometres. However, I did finish, and I recorded my success on Strava. I’ve previously written how Strava coerced me into becoming a runner, and that tiny glimpse of data intrigued me enough that I had to try again.

I went for a run on my own. A whopping 4-kilometre run, which again, I felt would never end. My only rule was to not stop and walk (many others credit the 3 min walk 1 min run technique to learn running — you know your body and your limitations — find something that works for you). For me, if I stopped to walk, it was that much harder to get going again.

Here’s what that run looked like:

https://www.strava.com/activities/485625868/embed/594382e7662c3c3a9a79fdb3170fb071496e1f05

It can be easy to get caught up in other people’s runs on Strava or Nike Run. Checking their time, elevation, distance, and photos. But here’s the thing: they all started somewhere. Practise makes progress, and it’s a mantra the fitness community knows well. I shared my above run with a friend who was prepping for her first 10km, and getting discouraged when her 3-kilometre runs were painful. Once I showed her my beginnings, she was motivated to keep going because she saw how easy 10km’s were for me after I put in some hard earned training.

I started running because I overcame the mental block of how hard it was, and instead opened myself up to the time I had to think about what was on my mind. I used my long runs to solve problems at work, debate things that were bothering me, contemplate new projects, and think about my upcoming to-do list.

When friends and family saw my runs, or heard me talk about them, they had the same mentality I did a year ago when my friends were training for marathons: I could never do that.

It is these people that I love chatting with the most about running. Here are the real reasons I started (and will keep it up as long as my legs will let me):

FLEXIBILITY – I could run from wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I could be out the door and back in under an hour. If I were traveling, I’d pack my shoes in my bag and could run from wherever I landed. Not only did it help me through potential jet lag or working off those extra drinks — it allowed me to see the city or community from a unique lens.

STRESS – Work was stressful, and I needed a way to combat it, but I didn’t have a ton of time (or budget) to sign up for luxurious gym memberships or classes. Tying into the flexibility listed above, running was a way to combat stress, without adding to it by needing to rush to a group class or budget paying for an expensive membership.

CHALLENGE – Running was an unbelievable challenge for me to take on. I believe we’re mentally at our best when we overcome challenges and push ourselves both mentally and physically. The way I feel after completing a run — big or small — still makes me feel challenged and satisfied I overcame something that was once very difficult for me.

I’m happy to show that my runs now typically look like this, and I don’t feel as though I’m dying after each step:

https://www.strava.com/activities/923889381/embed/3afb948c7b1b090dfa8c8d9e084deb8728d412c5

I’m currently training hard for the Toronto Triathlon Festival on July 23, 2017, so keep an eye on my Strava for new ride, swim, and run training activities! What are you training for?