I was Wrong. Running is Great.

I have always been a devotee of strength training and passionate about all kinds of physical games. Whenever friends chatted about their latest runs, I’d hit back with “Where’s the ROI in running?” or “Isn’t it knee damage waiting to happen?”. Now, here I am, raising my hands, ready to swallow those words. Yep, I was utterly wrong!

Last weekend, I ran my first half marathon, a journey that kicked off just 6 months ago with my first tentative runs. Running has been incredibly great across many dimensions. Let’s walk (or run :-)) through a few reflections.

You are running your own race - Don’t compare

I realized that while hundreds were running alongside me, this was my race. Everyone had their pace, their struggles, and their strategy. I eventually finished the race in 2:25 mins which is slower than average for a half marathon. Easy to get demotivated by seeing people zip past you - but the key is to focus on your strides, taking one step at a time, not getting swept up in the speed or progress of others.

It reminded me - don't compare your chapter 1 to someone's chapter 20. It’s all about personal growth and your own journey.

Compounding takes time. Trust the process

The concept of compounding isn't just for finance; it applies to running and life too. Each training day, every tiny effort, it all added up to cross the finish line. It wasn't about big leaps, but consistent, small steps. The process might seem slow, but sticking to it, trusting it, eventually, it pays off. So, whether it's running, learning a new skill, or building habits - patience and consistency are key.

MS Dhoni said this in one of his post match interviews and has stuck with me ever since “Process over outcomes”

Power of Declaration

The power of vocalizing our goals and pushing through is important. 6 months back I had spoken about running a half marathon to friends, family and colleagues and sometimes declaring our intentions keeps us honest in the journey and help us be on track (literally in my case!).

“This is the power of the spoken word. Your word creates your world.”

So here goes another one - “I will complete the Everest Base Camp Trek in 2024”. Fingers crossed and Wish me luck !!

These were life lessons unearthed from running but applicable everywhere. It's our race, our pace, our journey. Whether it's a marathon or any other goal, let's keep running, keep learning, and most importantly, keep moving forward.