Running is one of my favorite things in the world. I love the feeling of waking up early and getting a run done before the rest of the world even wakes up. I love the sound of my running shoes on the pavement. I love all of the race t-shirts I have that bring back so many good memories. I love looking back and seeing how far I’ve come from where I started. But most importantly, I love the valuable lessons that I’ve learned from a sport that is simply putting one foot in front of the other.
1. You can do anything you set your mind to.
Anyone can run. I mean that. ANYONE. I started running cross country in 7th grade. And on the first day of practice, I couldn’t run a mile without stopping. But now I’m a collegiate athlete. I promise you, even if running is hard and you feel like you can’t do it, you can. This is true in life to. Believing you can do something is the first step to actually being able to do it.
2. Hills make you stronger.
No one likes running up hills. They make your legs hurt sometimes. But running up hills makes your legs stronger. Sometimes in life, you have to go up “hills.” These hills are the obstacles that you face in life. Facing obstacles and hard times isn’t fun, and it hurts sometimes. But regardless, these hard times make you stronger.
3. Sometimes there are setbacks.
Injuries and tiredness happen when you run a lot. From mild muscle pain, to shin splints, to IT band issues, to stress fractures…all of these things can make you have to take some time off and re-evaluate. Sometimes things like these happen in life as well. Sometimes you have to stop doing something you love, in order to let yourself heal.
4. If you haven’t found the answer to a problem by the end of a long run, then there probably isn’t a clear answer.
Long runs are a good time to think. If you’re running with someone, long runs are a good place to vent as well. I can think of countless times where I’ve been running with a friend or a teammate and we’ve each just needed to talk about something going on in our lives. Sometimes, an answer to whatever the problem is has been found by the end of 6 miles, 8 miles, 10 miles…but sometimes, you’re still at a loss. In life, there aren’t always clear answers to problems either. In those times, you just have to sit back and trust that God will direct you to where He wants you to be.
5. You’ll only regret the times you didn’t run.
The hardest part of a run is lacing up your shoes and getting out the door. Once you start running, it’s a breeze. And once you get done, you have that feeling of accomplishment and are glad that you ended up running. Sometimes there are things in life that we don’t necessarily want to do. But in the end, we are glad we did it.
6. You get out what you put in.
The old saying “you get out what you put in” is true in running, and in life. In running, if you are consistent with your training and are recovering from your runs properly, you are going to succeed. The same is true with any goal in life…if you are doing the things you need to do to reach that goal, you are going to have a better chance at success.
8. Things get easier.
The first time I tried to run a mile, I was so out of breath and I couldn’t imagine having to run more. Now, I can easily make it through an 8 mile long run. Sure, it was hard the first time. But as I started doing it more, it got easier. There are things in life that are hard to do at first, but as you continue to do it, it definitely gets easier.
7. Don’t compare yourself to others.
Sometimes, standing on the starting line of a race can be a daunting thing. I’ve stood on starting line after starting line and compared myself to the other runners around me. Maybe one girl has a faster time than me. Maybe another girl has been running longer. Maybe another girl has more of a “runner’s body” than I do. But comparing myself to these other runners isn’t helping me in any way. Comparing myself to them isn’t going to help me run a better race. It isn’t going to help me run farther. Comparing myself to others in life isn’t going to get me anywhere either. Someone may be prettier, someone may be smarter, someone may have cuter clothes…but in the end, putting myself down is only going to make me feel bad about myself.
8. It’s just as much about the journey as it is about the finish line.
Sure, the finish line looks nice. Whether you’re running just for fun or running a race, the idea of being finished is such a pull factor. But if you’re only focused on the end goal, you miss all the fun along the way. You might miss being able to have a great conversation with someone you are running with. You might miss being able to see some pretty views. You might miss simply being thankful for your body that can run. Similarly, if you’re constantly focused on what’s ahead of you in life, you’re going to miss out on the beautiful journey and adventure that awaits you right where you are.
9. Rest is important.
If you aren’t letting yourself rest when you’re training, you’re eventually going to get injured or get tired of running. If you are constantly on the go in life and aren’t letting yourself have time to breathe, you’re going to constantly be tired, irritable, and stressed out. Rest is equally important, if not more important, than getting things done.
10. Some days are good, some days are bad.
It’s really frustrating when Monday morning’s run feels like you’re flying and feels so easy, but then Tuesday morning comes around and you feel like your legs are made of lead. That happens. It’s normal. Some days are good, some days are bad. In life, some days you feel like you’re on top of the world. Other days getting out of bed feels like it takes the same amount of effort as climbing Mt. Everest. But bad days just help you appreciate the good days that much more.
Sure, there are people who don’t like to run. That’s fine, there are things I don’t like to do as well. But I am so thankful that I started running, because running has taught me so much about myself and so much about life. I’ve learned what dedication looks like, I’ve learned what hard work feels like, I’ve learned how it feels to accomplish something you never thought you could do, I’ve learned how to be confident, and I’ve learned to be thankful for a body that carries me through each mile. If you've never tried to run before, I strongly recommend at least giving it a try. Who knows...you might end up falling in love with it like I did!
