I never know how a run will go ahead of time.
It’s what makes running intimidating. But it’s also what makes it so valuable.
Sometimes the start of a run will be brutal. Challenged breathing. Scattered thoughts. Heavy legs. The mind inevitably asks, “How much longer can I go?”
Sometimes these symptoms never subside and the entire run is a slog. If it gets bad enough, I might even cut it short. (A rare and frustrating outcome.)
But during most runs, a radical transformation of mind and body takes place. Easier breathing. Clearer thinking. Lighter legs. I start to believe I can run forever… Runners call it the ‘Runner’s High’ for good reason. If there was a drug you could take to instantly improve your wellbeing, I imagine the effects would be similar.
I typically experience just one runner’s high per run. But sometimes I’ll experience two. And occasionally a runner's high never comes. The only way to find out what that day’s run has in store is by going on the run.
Absent action, you can’t know what’s actually possible. But through action, the opportunity set of possibilities reveals itself. And sometimes, it’s beyond what you could have imagined.
The most rewarding runs are when I violate my expectations to the upside. Before the run I’ll think, “There’s no way I’m running more than one mile today.” But I start running anyways and eventually I realize I’m able to run much farther and faster than I first thought.
I enjoy many practical benefits from running: muscle recovery from lifting, improved cardio, increased bone density, etc. But I don’t run for these reasons.
I run to regularly remind myself of the art and magic of showing up.
