Before July 2025, I would have answered the question, “Do you like to run?” with “Absolutely not, my knees hurt, I do not like it, and I am not a runner, it’s bad for me, and I hate it.”
Or something along those lines.
So when I gave it a shot this summer, no one was more surprised than I that I very swiftly began to enjoy it and look forward to going on a run.
I had been feeling a little restless, a little lost in the fitness department. There were some things I wanted to look different on my body, and there was certainly a desire to feel strong and healthy as well. I had scaled way back from early morning bootcamp workouts (that ended up causing an incredible amount of migraines for me in a matter of a few months) and shifted over to pickleball and walking.
I loved pickleball (and still do!) because it was the most fun and social way to be active, get a good sweat on, and burn some calories. I was playing a ton, and then we left for the summer, and the pickleball opportunities were slim up in Lake Placid. I missed it and played a bit, but it’s really a sport that needs to be played with 3 other people of similar skill.
So it’s not the *easiest* activity to rely on for regular exercise unless you get a regular schedule going.
Halfway through the summer, I was fed up with feeling aimless and also feeling a little softer than I wanted to feel, so I entertained the idea of running. I also had some really inspiring conversations with friends about their major athletic accomplishments, and I started to feel a pull towards setting a goal and focusing on achieving it.
A half-marathon came to mind quick. I knew it would take very specific training and dedication, but I also thought it was within reach as something I could do. A full marathon felt way too daunting and intense, especially since I wanted to find something to run this fall.
I needed something I could set my sights on in the near future to work towards.
I think it took about 2 days of running on my treadmill to decide to register for the City of Oaks Half Marathon, which is in Raleigh, NC, this November. And right after I registered, I turned to ChatGPT to design a plan for me.
I showed it to Justin, who was supportive and encouraging about this new challenge for me, and he basically tore it up and suggested a much better plan for me. He has done his share of athletic feats (a 40-mile Ultra run, two Marathons, and the Ironman) and also knew my athletic capabilities pretty darn well, too. And better than ChatGPT did as well.
I started with running short distances. I would walk to a certain point, then run for a portion, and then walk it out to finish. I slowly expanded my running distance over time, all while paying very little attention to my time.
I decided my focus would be on trying to run this half-marathon without walking, no matter how long it took me.
Since July, I’ve run over 200 miles, and I can honestly say I love it. I look forward to going out on runs, and I feel better than I’ve felt in years. YEARS I TELL YOU.
I reached out to a few friends and invited them to run this half-marathon with me, and a few of them are doing it! It has been absolutely wonderful to train alongside them, especially when we can run together!
I have noticed a lot of changes since I started running, but these are the 4 most significant changes.
One. I feel less stressed and more at peace. Running has been an incredible stress reliever for me. I feel much more stable and calm ever since I started to run regularly (which is about 3-4 times a week). The focused, alone time doing something challenging for me, and also very rewarding, has been incredibly good for me.
Two. My self-confidence has grown. I feel deeply proud of all I have been able to accomplish so far. I love the training process, and I am feeling excited about the race. I feel great after I get the first mile under me, and continue to feel strong and happy even when I’m not running. It’s like I clicked over into a mode of “I’m pushing myself and achieving my goals,” and it has boosted my confidence significantly.
Three. I lost weight. While I wanted to feel better about my body, I genuinely believed that I wouldn’t lose weight. I haven’t lost weight in…..4+ years? I sort of resolved that this is just where my body wanted to be, and I was mostly okay with that. Like any person, there were moments when I wished I looked or felt a little different, but I wouldn’t wallow there for too long. I was bombarded by so much fitness advice on social media that it felt cripplingly difficult to find the right process for me and my body. When I started to run, I was hopeful that I would feel stronger, more confident, and perhaps tighten things up in certain places, but I did not think about weight loss. I wasn’t doing it to lose weight; I was running to achieve something and set my mind to something.
After 2 weeks, I noticed a lower number on the scale. The focus on running and the pretty immediate weight loss worked together to help me reset my approach to nutrition. I wanted to fuel my body better to set myself up for the most success in my run. I didn’t radically change what I was eating, I didn’t count anything, I didn’t try to load up on massive amounts of protein, I just ate more mindfully and likely in a bit of a deficit.
It was super manageable, and again, the primary focus was on running. I’ve lost over 10 pounds over these few months, which is both encouraging and a pleasant surprise.
Four. I feel happier. This could tie in with #1 here, but I feel better than I have in months, especially in my spirit and mind. There are so many other things to be deeply fulfilled and happy about in my life, but running has been such a huge part of feeling enjoyment, success, pride, and peace that it only makes sense that it’s making me feel a little happier, too!
I don’t have a long-term plan, I don’t know what will be next for me, but I do know that this season of running has been an unexpected source of so much goodness, and I’m so grateful I opened my mind up and gave it a shot.
