I hate running. And I love everything about it. Running has quite literally saved and transformed my life.
It turns out there is a lot of evolutionary theory that suggest our bodies were designed for running to chase down our protein. We’ve moved well beyond those days but there is still an important connection between the bottom of our feet and our brains – that’s why a walk or a run is so important to your health.
In an ever-connected world running 25-50 miles a week, without music or podcasts, has helped me contend with my own thoughts. It is so easy to grab our distraction devices when we get a moment of idle time. This is unhealthy. We need to learn to be with our thoughts. We need to learn to build better mental models for managing this world. Running gives me the reps.
Since March 2020, I’ve run at least 100 miles a month. The flexible commitment has allowed me to stay the course. I learned recently from Katy Milkman that the more restrictive a commitment, the more likely you are to abandon the rigour. The flexibility of 100 miles a month has kept me going.
It has taught me to set big goals and chase them with micro action. I will run 8 marathons on 8 Continents (Yes Zeelandia is a continent). I want to run the Abbotts Majors (London, NYC, Chicago, Tokyo, Berlin, and Boston). To do that I’ll need to qualify for Boston. And I’m working on breaking 3 hours (Only 2% ever achieve this). I can’t control the outcomes, but I can control the effort. Life is mostly about setting a direction and winning the next 10 minutes.
Since 2017, I’ve dropped from 228lbs to 178lbs and my garmin tells me I have the fitness level of a 20-year-old. It is far too kind. 😉
The mental benefits, though, have far outweighed the physical. I’ve become closer with friends and family who share a passion for fitness. I’m a better father and partner (thank you Emily Dugas for your support). I have more respect for the complexity of thought patterns and life. And I’m kinder to myself and as a result those around me.
In the end, the race is against yourself. Steve Magness wrote Do Hard Things. It is a brilliant reappraisal of toughness. Toughness is not about “pushing through.” It is about leaning in; “Real toughness is living in the nuance and complexity of the environment, bodies, and minds we inhabit…Real toughness is about acceptance: of who you are, what you’re going through, and the discomfort that often comes with it. It’s living in that place of tension so that the needed space can be created to find the best path forward.”
Putting myself there time and time again has made all the difference.
This Sunday, I run the Chicago Marathon.
I hate running. And I love everything about it. Running has quite literally saved and transformed my life.
It turns out there is a lot of evolutionary theory that suggest our bodies were designed for running to chase down our protein. We’ve moved well beyond those days but there is still an important connection between the bottom of our feet and our brains – that’s why a walk or a run is so important to your health.
In an ever-connected world running 25-50 miles a week, without music or podcasts, has helped me contend with my own thoughts. It is so easy to grab our distraction devices when we get a moment of idle time. This is unhealthy. We need to learn to be with our thoughts. We need to learn to build better mental models for managing this world. Running gives me the reps.
Since March 2020, I’ve run at least 100 miles a month. The flexible commitment has allowed me to stay the course. I learned recently from Katy Milkman that the more restrictive a commitment, the more likely you are to abandon the rigour. The flexibility of 100 miles a month has kept me going.
It has taught me to set big goals and chase them with micro action. I will run 8 marathons on 8 Continents (Yes Zeelandia is a continent). I want to run the Abbotts Majors (London, NYC, Chicago, Tokyo, Berlin, and Boston). To do that I’ll need to qualify for Boston. And I’m working on breaking 3 hours (Only 2% ever achieve this). I can’t control the outcomes, but I can control the effort. Life is mostly about setting a direction and winning the next 10 minutes.
It taught me to seek out a community that inspires. Mathew Benvie, Connie McInnes, Mark M., Rachel Farrell My fitness-focused family Shane Bannister and Candice Bannister. Others have been cheerleaders SHAWN HISCOTT, Martin Balcome, Wayne Crawley FCPA, FCA, Brad Langille, Colby Jardine…
Since 2017, I’ve dropped from 228lbs to 178lbs and my garmin tells me I have the fitness level of a 20-year-old. It is far too kind. 😉
The mental benefits, though, have far outweighed the physical. I’ve become closer with friends and family who share a passion for fitness. I’m a better father and partner (thank you Emily Dugas for your support). I have more respect for the complexity of thought patterns and life. And I’m kinder to myself and as a result those around me.
In the end, the race is against yourself. Steve Magness wrote Do Hard Things. It is a brilliant reappraisal of toughness. Toughness is not about “pushing through.” It is about leaning in; “Real toughness is living in the nuance and complexity of the environment, bodies, and minds we inhabit…Real toughness is about acceptance: of who you are, what you’re going through, and the discomfort that often comes with it. It’s living in that place of tension so that the needed space can be created to find the best path forward.”
Putting myself there time and time again has made all the difference.