I first started running towards the end of 2019 after a health setback, and honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into. Initially, it was just about getting fit again, a substitute for basketball since my doctor said no contact sports for at least six months. 🙂 But over time, I grew to love the sport. The simple process of putting one foot in front of the other started throwing life lessons at me some subtle, others smacking me right in the face.
It then dawned on me that running isn’t just about logging miles. It’s a MBA in resilience, patience, grit, and pushing through, even when everything in you screams, “Why the hell am I doing this?â€
Now, after five years and 3,000+ km of running, here’s what I’ve learned.
The First 2K Always Sucks - But Push Through
Most times when I start a run, the first couple of kilometers are pure hell. My legs feel like concrete, my breathing’s off, and my brain is already trying to convince me that heading home for a chai and a game on TV sounds like a much better idea.
But I’ve learned something: if I just keep going, something shifts. My lungs open up, my feet get into a rhythm, and suddenly, it’s not so bad. And life? Same deal. Starting anything new, a job, a project, even a tough conversation, feels uncomfortable. You’ll question why you even started. But if you push past that rough beginning, you settle in. And if you stick with it long enough, you don’t just survive. You get damn good at it.
Life is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Initially, I used to start my runs thinking I was Usain Bolt, only to crash and burn embarrassingly early. Then I realised it isn’t about how fast you start, but how long you can maintain the pace.
Same with life. Try to do everything at once, push too hard, and you’ll hit a wall. Burnout is real, whether in running, work, or relationships. The key? Find your rhythm. Some days, you go hard. Other days, you pull back. The goal isn’t to explode out of the gates. It’s to last.
Run Your Own Race
Nothing messes with your head more than looking at someone flying past you on the track and thinking, Why am I even trying?
Here’s the truth: comparison will kill your joy. It’s easy to feel like you should be running faster, earning more, doing better. But chasing someone else’s pace is a shortcut to burnout. Run your own damn race. Set your own goals. Stick to what works for you.
Breaks Aren’t Quitting
When I ran my first 10K, I was all about beating my PR, so I thought the best way to do that was not to stop for a hydration break. Losing four minutes to stop for water? Have you lost your mind? I’m trying to hit my PR here!
But by kilometre 8, I hit the wall. I couldn’t move. I was dehydrated, and instead of setting a PR, I had to walk the remaining 2K.
Lesson learned: There’s a difference between stopping and knowing when to pause. In running, you don’t skip hydration just because you’re trying to be tough. You stop, take a sip, then keep moving.
Life’s the same. Rest when you need to. Recover. Then get back at it. You’ll thank yourself for it.
Show Up, Even When You Don’t Feel Like It
Some runs? You feel like you could go forever. Others? Every step is a battle.
But here’s what I’ve learned: the tough days are the ones that matter most. Because anyone can show up when it’s easy. But showing up when you don’t feel like it? That’s when you build grit, resilience, and mental strength.
Same goes for anything worth doing. You don’t wait for the “perfect†conditions. You just show up, lace up, and get on with it.
Hills Suck — But They Make You Stronger
Ever tried hill runs? Going up is tough. Coming down is tougher. I’m confident nobody likes hills. They burn your legs, test your lungs, make you fall, and make you rethink your life choices.
But the weird thing? Once you’ve tackled a few, you start handling them better, not because the hills got easier, but because you got stronger.
Life’s no different. The challenges you dread? They’re the ones that toughen you up.
Celebrate the Small Wins
It’s easy to focus only on the big stuff, PRs, medals, finish lines. But some of my best runs? No records, no glory, no photos, just getting out the door, running, and feeling amazing.
Same with life. We chase the huge milestones and forget that progress happens in the little things. Getting through a tough day, taking a risk, learning something new, it all counts.
Remember my article on puttering? Same logic applies.
The Right People Make All the Difference
I love running solo. That’s my time. But running with a crew? That’s amazing too. Every once in a while, I run with a friend or my brother, and to tell you the truth, the right people push you, keep you accountable, and make even the hardest runs bearable.
Life’s the same. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, support you, and remind you why you started in the first place.
And trust me, you’ll be thankful and happier for it.
Some Days You Glide, Some Days You Grind
Some days, I feel invincible — like I could run forever. Other days? Every step feels like I’m dragging deadweight uphill.
The truth? That’s just how it is. Running, business, life, it’s all about consistency. The secret isn’t magic. It’s just putting one foot in front of the other, no matter what.
But at the end of the day, running, just like life, isn’t about speed, distance, medals, or who you’re faster than. It’s about showing up, pushing through, and figuring things out as you go.
Truth is, most of us don’t have it all figured out. We may look like we do, but really, we’re all just putting one foot in front of the other, managing what life throws our way.
So, whatever road you’re on, it’s your road.
You may have ten other runners running right next to you, but your experience on the road is completely different from the next person’s.
Enjoy the run.