A letter to my daughter

Runners know the heart is a muscle that must be strengthened.
The legs propel you forward.
The lungs give you breath.
The mind tells you to persist.
But the heart creates lifeblood, circulating fuel to every part of your body.

A runner’s heart becomes conditioned to pump a larger amount of blood per beat; as a result, the heart performs its job with ease. The increased miles, the harder effort, the speed sessions all contribute to a stronger heart. Over time, running physically changes the heart — strengthening the walls which increases its overall efficiency. Then one day, a route that once kicked your butt or a rep that left you gassed has you amped up and asking for more.

A strong heart gives you power and energy.
A strong heart is everything in running.

But how do you prepare the heart for the disappointment and ache that the sport so frequently delivers? When the training and preparation go so right and the race goes all wrong. When the rise, run, repeat results in devastating injury.

Can a physically strong heart protect you from emotional heartbreak?

You’ve been given a tremendous gift. But turns out, it’s an imperfect gift. Your long, easy stride, conditioned cardiovascular system, and killer instincts combine to make you an exceptional runner and fearless competitor.

Then there’s the cruel irony. Your ability is in conflict with your body, and your will is stronger than your bones. Yet for some reason, the punishing pursuit of running keeps drawing you in. You keep taking the bait.
Because it gives you joy and hope.
Then sneaks right up and crushes your spirit.
You ask yourself “why do I keep going,” then hold your “why” close and dear to your hardened heart… and keep going.

Determined spirit preempting conventional wisdom.

Until there’s a literal crack in the plan. The femoral neck and then the sacrum wave the white flag. And you can’t keep going.

That’s when you’re reminded that a strong heart is simultaneously everything in running and everything in not running. With multitudes of setbacks and a career full of comebacks, the heart strengthens, finding a way to dig deeper. Then finding a way to let go. With it comes a wealth of learning you can keep cashing in on over a lifetime.

You’ve found purpose in the process, nothing is wasted when every effort is appreciated.
You’ve recognized that when there’s community first, committing to a common goal comes naturally.
You’ve discovered the stable self-confidence that comes from separating your performance from your self-esteem and outcomes from your identity.
You’ve sharpened your mind, honed resilience, defined your path.
You’ve learned that courage is feeling fear and choosing to move forward anyway.

And your strong heart makes moving forward possible.