Life lessons learned from running

The topic of this week’s Take It and Run Thursday is life lessons learned from running.

I kicked this one around for so long and then discovered it was right in front of me.  It’s all about the struggle.

Some days I train.  A few times a year I race.  But most days I just run.  And in those ordinary runs I learn and relearn one of life’s greatest lesson—the value of the struggle.

In times when we seek convenience and ease, there’s something exciting about pursuing a struggle.  I love working through a running challenge like getting out the door, holding a strong pace when I feel good, or barely holding on when I feel lousy.  Running is one of the truest forms of what we were told growing up about “building character.” 

Inside, I feel like the struggles we runners face are a badge of honor.  For example, as a morning runner, I love knocking off a gritty run before most people’s alarms have gone off.  After doing something demanding early in my day, I'm able to draw strength and perseverance from that run when I get into tougher stuff later in the day.

I love the entire struggle--breathing hard, straining, working aching muscles, and sweating.  I even love the resistance—my head, the ground, those damn hills, the wind, the temperatures.

Don’t get me wrong. I also love those rare everything-feels-great, floating, let’s-do-a-few-more-miles runs.  But they are a gift and not to be expected.  Instead, at the very core of what keeps me lacing up my shoes and getting out the door is the opportunity to struggle.

After running for decades, running still brings new challenges, like managing my weight.  Why is it I still have to watch my diet while marathon training?  Still, I embrace the struggle and keep waging war daily.

In fact, I think struggle is at the very center of what unites runners, that shows our solidarity.  We’re all working on something—trying to run faster, further, more comfortably, without an injury, or just not quit.

It’s all about the thrill, challenge, and gift of the struggle.

Amy and I are inspired and grateful for everyone’s contributions to Take It And Run Thursdays.  We appreciate your insights and your willingness to share your collective wisdom.  In short, we’re better runners and better people because of you.

So we want to show our appreciation and will give away an autographed copy of The Runners’ Guide to the Meaning of Life to one of tomorrow’s contributors. 

Thanks in advance for sharing your life's lessons learned from running.

Challenge Yourself on Flickr by Tonz

Struggle Continues on Flickr by Batatinha

Comments

[Betsy Wasser]

Great post, Tom. I was listening to an old Phedip, and Steve Runner was doing a bit about his desire to break four hours in a marathon. He said that he wanted to do this, "Not because it's easy, but because it is hard." The struggle and the challenge are what make our pursuits so appealing.

[Na]

I was just sitting here wondering what this week's topic was. :)

I love running in the morning, it allows me to carry that "So, what did you do today?" attitude with me all day.

Love this sort of post.

[Strugglepants]

Coming from StrugglePants herself, I agree, the struggle is awesome... and makes it all worth it. I think, if I am not struggling, I am not trying hard enough. :)

[kara]

The gift of being able to run...I never take for granted. Very insightful post : )

[Leah]

Such a great post! The confidence gained from struggling through a run and doing something you thought you couldn't is worth it's weight in gold. It's one of the reasons I want so badly for my sons to start running. You hit the nail on the head.

[vivi]

......I love the entire struggle--breathing hard, straining, working aching muscles, and sweating.

I loved that line I could repeat it over and over!

[Pamela Ann]

I started running in elementary school, (not that I'm fast), its that I can. Soon I will hit 46, I
find that when I dont run I feel more pain. My body
feels me missing out on the struggle. That's my life's lesson in short. Thank you for sharing.

[Stacey]

Great post, Tom. There really isn't anything much better than finishing a really tough run. It is all about the struggle. Thanks for your thoughts.

[Felice]

So spot on. Now what am I going to write? Ha!

Really good post that sums up so much of what we runners experience. And why we run.

[Nancy]

Hmmmm, we may be hitting on exactly why I am so dang slow. Perhaps I don't struggle at it enough? :D

[lauralou]

This is so true Tom, I think you have described perfectly an aspect of running which non-runners find hard to understand- the moment you understand this is when you become a runner.

A long time ago someone told me "nothing worth doing is easy".