In late 2019, I started running. I started with one mile and I hated it.
It took me about one year of consistently throwing on my shoes and stepping out the door to enjoy running. One of the reasons why I continue to run today is the training I get in other areas of my life.
Habits that unintentionally carry over into other parts of your life are called keystone habits.
When you’re running a long distance, it’s your mind that brings you forward. One more step. Another foot forward. Running trains your resilience.
Here are invaluable life lessons running has taught me to take the next step forward:
- Trust the process. Whether you want to run your first 100km in one month or your first full marathon, most people can’t do that overnight. Create a plan, show up, and trust the process.
- You are in this race for yourself. The marathon might be what drives you, but it’s the journey of the run that matters right now.
- Discomfort is the biggest opportunity for growth. The discomfort you feel through today’s struggle is developing the resilience you need for tomorrow.
- No matter how awful this feels right now, the end result will feel amazing. Just focus on the next step forward. I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy to cross the finish line. I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.
- After the race, leave space for rest. Even athletes carve time for recovery. Rest isn’t quitting; it’s recharging your batteries.
When you run, you learn that it’s the present that matters most. You just need to push forward now.
“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training.” -Archilocus
The question now is: how far are you willing to go in order to get what you want?
What does your ability to endure say about the level of your training?
The struggle you are undergoing is real, but one of the most important parts of your training is your mental resilience.
Read More: I Completed My First Marathon – and It Started with One Mile
