Yeah, so this one is about running. I understand if you’re not interested but I’ll also make you a promise. If you do a particular thing, on purpose, every single day for 7 years and then you write about it, I promise I’ll read it. Even if it’s not my thing.
When I moved to the Middle of Nowhere, running was a normal, regular thing for me. At the old house, it was easy to walk out the door and start running down the little neighborhood streets. When we moved to 10 acres of grass and trees, I wasn’t sure where I would feel safe running. I worried I might have to drive somewhere to run and that would be a lot of extra time. The first day after we settled in, I looked around the “yard” and decided I could just try running around the perimeter of the property and see how far that was. I found my way to enough laps to make a 5K run and then got up the next day and did it again.
It's funny how big things sometimes start without any fanfare. Those two consecutive runs were the first days of my 7 year, 2 month running streak. My plan was to keep running as long as possible. While I endured and persisted through all sorts of crazy weather and personal events, in July 2018, I had a surgery that forced me to take off my running shoes for 4 weeks. On August 17, 2018, I had my follow up visit and the surgeon told me I could go home and run, but to take it easy. All I heard was that I could run.
That was one of the best runs of my life. I remember running in the heat of the afternoon and feeling the warm air flow around my bald head. I felt so free, so happy. Then I ran the next day. Then the next.
Soon, I was training for a half marathon, then a full marathon, and then another half marathon. My training plans called for “rest days” which for me just meant a simple, easy 3.1 mile run. Relatives worried that my knees would fail. Running friends worried that I should actually be resting on rest days. Immediate family thought I was crazy. Those, however, were the easiest days to run.
The hardest run I can (somewhat) remember was during the time I was suffering through Ocular Shingles in 2019. Basically, I ran with one eye open, excruciating pain in the other eye and open sores on one side of my head, then collapsed on the bed and slept. I barely remember running for a few of those days but I do remember it was my only activity other than sleeping in a dark room.
Since then, I’ve run in all the conditions and I've even run with my students or my kids during extra mileage runs. I get to do Cross Country summer conditioning with my kids’ school team and this is all in addition to my morning 5K run. That run is sacred. I run alone in the morning 99.9% of the time. If you’ve run with me on a morning run, you’re part of a super rare group. And while I’m sure I loved running with you, I need to run all those other runs on my own.
There’s science to prove all of this is true, but here’s the anecdotal information: Running is a time of meditation for me. I pray for people, I plan my day, I solve major global problems and I have all sorts of discussions and conversations with people who are not even around. I know that sounds like I talk to myself and essentially, that’s what’s happening, but it’s really just thinking out loud because no one is around to hear. All this allows me to begin my day having accomplished a task that most humans are not even capable of doing. It allows me to start my day with a clear head and a plan. It allows me to solve problems and feel much less anxious. It also keeps my heart rate up for about 30 minutes which keeps my circulatory system healthy. My lungs stay conditioned to get oxygen where it needs to be under physical stress. My muscles and limbs stay healthy and flexible. At 53, I’m feeling pretty good and not many people can keep up with me literally or figuratively.
There’s no one thing that running every day has taught me. In fact, I could easily argue that running every day has taught me everything I know about life. When people find out that I run every day they sometimes use words like discipline, commitment, mental strength and insanity. The word that keeps coming up in my life, though, is consistency.
I am probably faster than you, but I’m not a super-fast runner. I’m lucky if I place in my age group at a race and if I win, it’s because the faster person just didn’t show up that day. I don’t know a lot about running. I put on my shoes and I start running. That’s the extent of my knowledge. But in every single area of my life, I know that consistency is what’s most important. Not being fast and not knowing a ton, just showing up every single day.
If you find consistency in your life, you will be successful in whatever you do. You may not be the best or know the most, but if you’re willing to just show up every single day and do the thing, you’ll find more success than most. The thing is, most people won’t try it because it’s hard.
Is it hard to run in the heat of August or the cold of January? Only a little. I love cold weather running. Is it hard to run in a hurricane or at 3am before an early appointment? Sorta, but it’s also kind of awesome. My hardest runs are when it’s pouring rain and I can hear it from inside. I hate rain and I don’t like having wet shoes. The first few steps in the rain suck really bad. I usually make audible noises of disdain. But then, I’m wet and I just have to run 3 miles and I can get out of the rain and have coffee, so I start splashing in the puddles and flinging mud all over my legs. It also feels a little badass to be running in the rain, not gonna lie about that. And all of it is easier when you do it every single day.
Today, I got up and ran on my 7 year runniversary. 2,555 days in a row. My running app says that since 2011, I’ve run 17,405 miles. In two months, if things keep working well, I’ll match my longest streak ever. I know that running isn’t for everyone but how could I love something so much and not encourage others to try to discover that same love? I think you should give running a try. I think you should run every day. I think it would solve most of your problems. Will it be hard? Will you feel like you’re actually dying? Yes, absolutely, but you probably won’t die and if you stick with it, you’ll look and feel better than you ever have. But if you won’t run, I encourage you to find some physical exercise that you can do consistently. Do it when you’re tired, do it when you’re busy and do it especially when you don’t want to. I want you to be physically and mentally healthy and I want you to feel the power of consistency.
(If you're interested in starting running for real, you can find a post on this blog by searching "running tips" and it will help you get started and not quit.)