Running was the original Olympic sport, but today it is often forgotten among the hype of popular American sports like football and baseball. Becoming a runner has had a huge impact on my life though, and it has taught me much more than I ever thought that it would. Here are 11 life lessons that running can offer.

1. Discipline. Sometimes it takes a lot to just get off your feet to go for a run. If you want to get better, or at least stay in shape, you have to discipline yourself by making time to run.

2. Everybody has bad days. I have definitely had my share of bad runs, but this is something that happens to everyone. Nobody is going to be at their peak performance one hundred percent of the time.

3.Having teammates always helps. Whether it’s with running, work, or life in general, surrounding yourself with other people who have a common goal pushes you toward your goals as well.

4. Sometimes, it’s okay to eat a whole pint of ice cream by yourself. If you accomplish something big, or even if you’re just having a stressful day, you deserve to treat yourself.

5. Appreciation of the different seasons. Some people like to run in cold weather, and others like to run in hot weather, but you have to learn to appreciate the different seasons in order to look forward to your favorite types of weather.

6. Listen to your body. If you feel like you’re getting sick or you’re super stressed-out, don’t push your body past its limits. It will much more likely help you than hurt you to take a rest once in a while.

7. Respect for the environment. If you’ve ever run in a big city or past a person smoking, you know that it makes it harder for you to breathe properly. Do you really think that the pollutants around us are good for the environment?

8. Invest in some good shoes. Obviously, proper running shoes are important to reduce risk of injury and to help your performance, but good shoes are important in your daily life too. Having at least one nice pair of comfortable shoes can greatly improve a person’s confidence.

9. Bumps and bruises don’t last forever. Almost every runner gets injured every once in a while, but it will get better eventually. Likewise, all human beings face problems in their daily lives, but they will be overcome.

10. Always give your best effort. You’re not going to regret it in the end if you know that you gave it your all, but if you only put in minimal effort, you’re going to get a lesser outcome.

11. There’s always going to be someone better than you. Don’t ever let yourself think that you are the best at something. Always leave room for improvement.