Lessons From The Run: What Running Taught Me About Life and Myself
Yoga came easy to me. I was always flexible — an attribute I inherited from my mother — and that made me a teacher’s pet in my Ashtanga sessions. My mat would always be front and center, and I loved being competitive. (Yes, apparently, one can get competitive during a Yoga session too.)
Running? Not so much. As a kid, I hardly did any sports except the usual childhood games. As an adult, I couldn’t even maintain a run for longer than a few minutes. I remember the times my friends would break into laughter after our attempts at “running.” I would be done before the first half a kilometer.
Things changed slowly. In Sweden, in the Spring of 2012, inspired by my Ph.D. peers and as a celebration of being able to finally be outdoors after all indoor winter activities, I started running.
In the early days, my run tracking was more of a guess and verify. Without a smartphone, with my rusty old Nokia, I could only keep track of time. I would guess the distance covered by checking the routes on Google Maps once I got home.
I don’t exactly recall when or how running that first real kilometer felt. What I do remember, however, is that for years I struggled to run more than a couple of continuous kilometers. My muscles weren’t strong enough, and my breathing technique was lacking.
Being someone with venous insufficiency and severe scoliosis, medical professionals advised me against running. Perhaps those thoughts were ingrained in me: I couldn’t and shouldn’t run. Despite the advice, I continued. My body needed it, and so did my lungs.
Now, after years of practice, I’ve run numerous kilometers, taken part in races, and even developed a love for running. I may be a slow runner, but that doesn’t take away from my enjoyment.
Running has taught me invaluable life lessons.
First, we can achieve anything we put our minds to. It requires work, sure, but it’s possible. I may not be the fastest runner out there, but I’m a lot quicker now than I was in my 20s and early 30s. This leads to the second lesson.
Second, never compare your journey to others’. Each path is unique, influenced by its own set of initial and current conditions. We are all different — what we consume, and how our bodies process nutrients — these variables differ. The only comparison that matters is with your past self. Needless to say, I’m not competitive anymore, in yoga or running.
Third, listen to your body. If something doesn’t feel right — be it during a run or a yoga pose, adjust accordingly. The same applies to relationships. If a person or situation triggers unease, it’s okay to step away.
Fourth, embrace what comes naturally, but attempt new things too. Yoga was my thing. Now, I may be a little less flexible due to more running and strength training and less yoga. Strength and flexibility are as crucial for physical endeavors as they are for life, especially when it’s time to move on from situations that no longer serve us. (Sometimes we need to run from some situations too.)
Fifth, the journey matters as much as the destination. Initially, I used to enjoy running mainly for the post-run mood and energy. This was likely because I used to struggle with my runs. As my body has grown stronger, I’ve come to enjoy the run itself.
Today, I know that if I train, I can also run a half marathon. (That’s my biggest ambition when it comes to running, but it will have to wait for the future.)
Every now and then, I reflect on how my body craved those runs despite the struggles, the negative voices, and the medical advice. But I laced up my shoes and hit the trail because, despite everything, the feeling afterward was good. Now, the journey itself feels good too.
