running
Learning doesn’t always have to take place in the classroom, on internships, or any other place that one might expect to be taught valuable life lessons. I’ve been running consistently for over 6 years, ranging from as little as 2 to 3 days a week to 7 days depending on what exactly is happening currently in my life. When you have done something for so long and so consistently, there is no debate on whether you are going or not. You already know the answer before you even leave your house. But what exactly have I learned through these years? Running hasn’t taught me Calculus or how to program or other important career skills. Yet it has taught me something that cannot be learned no matter how smart or talented you are. It wasn’t easy, sometimes I was out of the country battling jet-lag and sore legs. Sometimes I had multiple interviews and exams to study for. Sometimes I just didn’t feel like getting out of bed in the morning to embrace the cold, brisk air. It’s a little weird thinking about all the time that I have spent in my life dedicated to this. Running takes up from 30 minutes to 1 hour a day, and over the course of 6 years that can add up to thousands of hours on the road. My running shoes are so worn down that the bottom of the soles are paper thin. My memories of my runs blur together, a lot of times I can’t even see what’s in front of me clearly because my eyes are stinging from the sweat dripping down my forehead, or the blinding light of the early morning sun.
So if I don’t remember what my runs are, and it’s such a simple thing to do, what exactly has this running taught me? I remember the feelings of each and every run. Sometimes I’m at tip-top shape, and my legs feel more like they are floating than pushing off the ground. Other times they feel incredibly heavy, my stomach feels awful, and my head hurts. Running has taught me in some respect what the meaning of life is. That’s a bold thing to claim from such a simple activity, but I think it’s true. Running has given some of my bleakest and worse days purpose. It’s salvation, and not in the religious sense. There were days when all I had to do was run. Nothing more, and nothing less. There were days when I was so scared of the outcome of the day, running enabled me to steel my senses. Running taught me pain, it has taught me consistency, it has taught me grit. You can fake a lot of things in life, you can win games based off pure luck or chance. You can lie and cheat your way into success sometimes. Running doesn’t allow that. You cannot fake it. There is no luck, no skill, nothing but you, your legs, and the road ahead of you. Slowly your brain melds, and your body and mind become much more attuned. Over the years, my body has grown accustomed to the constant beating of the ground, to my heavy breaths, and sweat. While you become stronger, you also gain more than just physical strength and resilience. You gain respect for oneself, pride, and a sense of duty towards your body. Those who run understand the inner beauty of their bodies. The blood flowing from their heart to their faces, legs, and arms. They understand the soreness of their muscles day in and day out of training. Running regulates your mood, increases mental clarity, and combats depressive disorders. People for centuries have been searching for a drug that does the things that regular running is able to do for you.
So this is a love letter to running. It has given me so much for so little. It has given me the success that I have in my life, the confidence to face the world day to day, and has proven to be an irreplacable teacher for me.