Three Things Running Has Taught Me

“You were made to run long distance,” my track coach told me when I was in the ninth grade. If you’re not into running, bear with me for a moment. Running applies to many life challenges – so you might relate more than you anticipate. Since I only ran on the track team one year, I must not have taken him very seriously. I went running occasionally over the next couple of decades before his words resurfaced in my mind. (Side note: Words are powerful. Speak life-giving words to everyone you see – you never know if those words will encourage a person twenty years down the road.)

Two years ago I began to run a little on the treadmill when I got tired of the elliptical machine at the gym. Around that time a friend mentioned that a group of women from our church were going to participate in a half-marathon, and I thought, why not try?

I began training for the race, and although running more than a couple of miles was difficult, I found that I enjoyed the challenge. And my former coach’s words came back to me “you were made to run distance…"

Two years after my first (and so far only) half marathon, I still run when my health and schedule allow. I wrote about the similarities between running and battling infertility in my book Embracing Hope, but I’ve noticed a few more things I’ve learned since then.

1)      Running has taught me to endure hardship.
Whether I’m pushing myself to run three miles in the hot sun when I’m out of shape, or whether I’m determined to finish four miles around the lake, or if I’m set on running five miles through our nation’s capital with my husband, running has taught me to endure. If I can push my body to take another step, I can push my entire being to keep going when disappointment hits me in this infertility journey. Running has taught me to press on even when things are difficult.  

2)      Running has taught me to enjoy the easier moments.
When I go out for a short run, I often take a specific loop that involves some hills, one big one in particular. While climbing the big hill one day I realized that there is an incline, then a slight downhill, then an incline. I realized that I should breath easily, relax, and feel thankful for that moment of downhill ease. Because life is like that hill – it feels like a huge uphill climb at times – but there ARE moments of rest and refreshment and I need to shout a THANK YOU to God and take a deep breath in those moments because inevitably more difficult moments will come again.

3)      Running has taught me to persevere in other areas of my life.
If I can push myself to run, I can push myself to not give up hope during infertility. If I can train myself to run for two hours, I can train myself to play the guitar and sing for two hours when I take a turn worshipping here (insert link to David’s tent post). When I’m having a really l-o-n-g day at work or in any other area of my life, I can push through because if I can run, I can endure!

I’m no Olympic athlete, but I have gained so much personal growth from running. It’s good for my body, my mind, and my soul!