I was thinking about all the things that running has taught me over the years, and I tried to capture the most important in this post. I wasn’t a child prodigy runner, nor was I on the school XC team. But, I HAVE been running for 30 YEARS and it has blessed me with so many amazing experiences. 

These experiences have included running marathons all over the country and even representing Houston in the Athens Marathon; pushing myself and meeting new friends on overnight 200 mile relay races; missing an Olympic marathon qualifying time by seconds, but getting to run with the Torch in the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay; setting event course-records at the mile distance and the half-marathon distance while being in my 40s; and most recently, winning the RCAA 10 mile Texas State Championship in the “Super Master” division last year . .  probably my favorite distance of all time. Oh, yeah, and running has given me the confidence and “I can do anything” mindset that allowed me to take up Spartan racing at an elite/competitive level at age 48 through today! But, this laundry list is just a bunch of achievements, running has brought and taught me so much more, read on to find out:   

Winning isn’t Everything: Of course, winning is amazing and a validation of hard work meets talent, but it’s not the end-all-be-all.  Not every runner even has the genetic propensity to finish in the front of a race, but that doesn’t diminish the effort. The real winning is in the process of setting a goal and giving it your best effort, despite the odds, the situation, the circumstances. Every runner has the potential to be a winner . . . even if not being THE winner who tears through the finish line tape. Be your own hero!

Respect the Rest: Running workouts are hard physically, but rest “workouts” are tough mentally. Most of us are conditioned to think that it’s better to have more work, more miles, more intervals. That’s not true, rest is essential to lessening injury risk and optimizing future training sessions and race performances. Your rest may differ from my rest (also consider active recovery), there are so many factors that go into workout recovery including intensity, duration, nutrition, age, etc. Listen to your body and find out what it needs, then RESPECT the REST!

Dial Down Data (Some): In my 20s, I was ridiculously obsessed with capturing and analyzing my running data on a spreadsheet — miles, pace, heart rate, etc. GPS watches didn’t even exist back then! I took a big break in my 30s to have children and “run for fun” and rarely looked at a watch. Sure, I could have been faster, I could have pushed myself harder, but I feel that this hiatus from the data, and thus trying to overachieve, kept me mentally and physically well. Enter 40s, more time on my hands, audacious goals and a shiny new Garmin that both pushed me to the edge of my limits and compelled me to measure every movement, every day. Then, ENOUGH, a 3-year break with no Garmin, no data, more enjoying running for running. I did get slower (and older), so I made a comprise and in my 50s, starting using a GPS watch for specific runs like speed work, progressive tempo runs and such where it makes sense to have real-time pace available. But, I don’t use it every day, I can’t tell you the exact mileage I’ve run this week, or last month, or last year. And I’m okay with that. I will say that every once in a while, I check in with my Cadence to see if I’m on point (180 steps per minute) or check in on heart rate to see if I recovered enough from past workout.

Find Something Fun: Twenty-five years ago, I would have said the only thing fun about a running would be winning or placing well. While I still have that competitive drive, other factors make running more worthwhile for me now – seeing friends, cheering on other runners on an out-and-back, wearing something crazy (hmm, sparkle skirt or bright knee-socks), taking a “racecation” vacation with my husband, making all the running experience positives, no matter what the result board says.

Broaden Horizons: For so long, I only ran. And, ran. Like Bubba Gump, sorta. Almost exclusively on the road in traditional marathons and other long-distance races. And, then for the last 10 plus years I added all the fitness things – CrossFit, yoga, trail running, Spartan races, fitness competitions. To do this level of physical work at 50+ years old, and stay well, I don’t run high mileage – people are surprised to find out I only run an average of 25 miles a week. Adding these other fitness things and reducing my mileage, doesn’t mean I love running any less – in fact, I may love it more! 

Don’t Be Afraid: I have “failed” more times than I’ve “won,” I have gotten lost on courses, I have SNAFU’d and been embarrassingly DQ’d, I have fallen and needed medical attention (too many times, haha), I have “hit the wall” and bonked over and over (you think I’d learn), I’ve had heat exhaustion and hypothermia (not at the same time, haha), and I’ve run into an actual mountain lion in the middle of the night. None of these experiences has ever tarnished my love for running and kept me from getting back up on the proverbial horse that bucked me.

Keep Grinding: Allowing for rest and recovery, keep grinding! I’ll keep it short and sweet by saying “Runners’ gonna run” and learn new things (like me, here, working with my beloved POSE Method running coach).

Things Change: This one has been a hard lesson to fully embrace, but things change. You get older, you get slower (even if you are working harder), your body says “I’D RATHER NOT” when your mind says “LET’S DO IT.” You can NOT compare your 50-year-old self to your 25-year-old self, for all the betters and worses! I remind myself that running is a journey, a lifetime journey. And, that all journeys change and are unique. If your entire running experience was exactly the same, year after year, or exactly the carbon copy of my running journey, think of how stagnant and boring life would be.

Don’t Let it Define You: While running has been a huge part of my life for 30 years (and I hope for 30 more), I am more than runner. I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, fun-loving, kind-hearted, creative person with value and worth above running. Who are you? 

What has running taught you, please share in comments – xoxo, Jennifer