5 Life Lessons I Learned From Running

Almost 10 years ago, I came across Haruki Murakami’s memoir, “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” and in it, he said:

“It seemed to me that what goes on in many runners’ minds are pretty universal, a unifying factor which I later found out, isn’t so common at all.”

Every time I talk about running and try to get some friends to join in on the fun, 90% of the time, I get the same old response —

“I hate running.”

Ouch! Who knew this sport could be so divisive? I rarely hear people say “I hate badminton.”, “I hate swimming.”, “I hate yoga.”, etc. I guess you either hate running or love it, there is no in between.

I’ve joined a little running club comprising my law school mates, and we initially came together to complete the (self-imposed) 70 km Challenge, a challenge to run a distance of at least 70 kilometers each, per month. We had to take a break since the pandemic began, but with the ban on recreational activities lifted (Yay!), we’ve now resumed the challenge, but with a shorter distance (50 kilometers) to cover for July 2020.

While I’ve constantly been pursuing better PRs (i.e. personal records), the 70 km Challenge is no easy feat, mainly due to the time limit and individual schedule. Running can be such a great metaphor for life, and here are 5 likenesses that I’ve drawn:

1. If you suck at something, do more of it

There is no way to get better at running than running more. How does one run better? That depends on your goals — some may want to run a faster pace, some may wish to cover a longer distance, others may opt for both. To obtain a better pace and/or run further, there is no magic pill other than to just run more. Of course, it also helps to have proper running form so that you don’t injure yourself. After all, more time spent in recovery is less time spent running. Like with all things, practice makes perfect, so if you struggle with cooking, cook more. If you’re bad at writing, write more (or at least that’s what I’m trying to do). It takes consistency to improve, and you only get what you give.

2. You are your own competition

There will be times (actually, all the time) when I see an older gentleman or gentle lady zooming past me, putting me (and my pace) to shame. I can tell that these are seasoned runners by the looks of their form, physique and style. The point is, there will always be someone running faster than you, doing something better than you. Nonetheless, the only person you should really be concerned about is yourself. The only way to get better, is to constantly try to outdo yourself. Like in life, the only person you need to strive to do better than, is your former self. Everyone is on a different path in life, and you need to run your own.

3. Failing to plan is planning to fail

The only way to complete 70 kilometers within a month is to plan ahead and then stick to it. You’ll injure yourself if you save it all for the last minute (been there, done that, no fun). What has worked for me is, splitting the distance into shorter, doable distances for each week. As I progress, these short runs become longer. I started with 5 kilometers per run and slowly progressed to 8–10 kilometers per run. In life, planning ahead is key to time management. Some goals may seem difficult and overwhelming, but if we break the process down into smaller and more manageable tasks, we’ll have a better shot at reaching our goals. It certainly takes a lot of the anxiety out of the journey too.

4. Willpower is a muscle

If you’re not used to running, your leg muscles will ache badly if you suddenly decide to run a 5k. This is why to train for any race, a slow and gradual increase in distance is usually prescribed so that your muscles can adapt to longer distances (i.e. build endurance). The same can be said about willpower. It gets stronger with regular use and training, but small steps. Self-control is something you build over time and not all at once. It is about consistently and mindfully making the better decision so much so that making the better decision becomes a habit. Once it is a habit, it will feel more natural, even automatic.

5. You make time for the things you value

This used to be one of my least favourite phrases. I especially hated it when it’s said to me in the context of exercise. Having no time is the most convenient excuse to throw around, but everyone has 24 hours. It’s about making time for the things that are important to you. There is no way you can run 70 kilometers in a month if you do not make it a priority. In daily life, making time can mean waking up earlier to go to the gym. It can mean spending 10 minutes in the kitchen at night to prepare your healthy breakfast in advance. It can also mean putting your laptop away for 30 minutes to spend time with your loved ones. If it’s important to you, you will find a way. Otherwise, you will find an excuse.

Running is, after all, a mental sport in more ways than one. I get it, it’s not for everybody, and frankly, I think it takes a certain degree of insanity to enjoy the torture. It is a sport in which your progress may be slow, long, and hard — but like in life, nothing worth having comes easy.