Our Tuesdays on the Run topic this week is all about CHANGE. Do you feel like you’ve changed since you became a runner? I certainly do! Running changed me in so many ways since I started pounding the pavement back in my mid-30s. Here are five of the most significant ways running changed me.
Health. I started running 20+ years ago in hopes of escaping the heart disease, Type II diabetes and obesity that’s rampant on my dad’s side of the family. Knock wood, so far I’ve been successful. Even though I’ve gained some weight (thank you menopause) I’m still a good 20 pounds lighter than I was before I started running in my early thirties. You don’t need to commit to a half or full marathon to reap the health benefits of running. Just getting out for 30 minutes or so 3 or 4 times a week and paying attention to stretching, rest, proper fuel and recovery will do wonders for your health.
Happiness. Chalk it up to endorphins, stress relief and more, sure it may suck sometimes while we’re actually doing it, but running typically leaves us feeling better than we did before we started. I like to think of it as an attitude adjuster. I always feel more optimistic and at peace after a run.
Confidence. Running teaches us that we are capable of persevering and accomplishing hard things. Pushing through tough workouts and races or adverse conditions helps us build confidence. That confidence carries over to other aspects of our lives. While it’s easy to fall into the comparison trap and dwell on how I look, running has taught me to value and appreciate all that my body can do instead.
Discipline. Running makes you accountable. It’s up to you to figure out how to get your workouts in. Staying consistent takes discipline. Staying consistent also has rewards. We are rewarded with fitness gains, health improvement, a circle of like-minded friends, and more. Like confidence, we can carry that discipline into other areas of our lives and use it to work more efficiently, achieve goals, etc.
Persistence. There’s risk in setting a goal that scares us or one we’re not entirely sure we can achieve. By putting together a plan and persistently chipping away at part of that plan each day, week after week, month after month, and ultimately reaching a large goal, we become more willing to take risks in the future. When our actions are rewarded, we’re emboldened to dream bigger and aim higher. Goals that once seemed impossible (running related or otherwise) no longer are. When you realize that where there is a will, there is a way, truly anything is possible.
When/why did you start running? How has running changed you? Did you enter my giveaway?
Upcoming TOTR topics:
- 8/21: Summer running goals left to check off
- 8/28: Grade your month
- 9/4: Fall running plans/favorites
- 9/18: Favorite ways to keep running exciting
- 9/25: Grade your month
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I think paying attention is the key – like you said, whether it’s food, recovery, habits. It’s attuning to ourselves.
I think running has changed me in all these ways too. I definitely think I have become more disciplined since becoming a running which has helped with other areas of my life.
These all ring true for me too!! The discipline and motivation running has taught me really is unparalleled.
This is such a great topic and I wish I had jumped on it! Running has changed me in so many ways and all for the better. Discipline and confidence are probably the top ways. What’s nice is that even though I’m slowing down and cutting back, those benefits linger.
I could echo your list of benefits running has given you. You are 20 lbs. lighter than you were in your 30s? Nice! I didn’t do my homework and write about this topic, but now I wish I had, and I might do it still, even if I am late to the party! 🙂
I started running a few years ago, but it has definitely given me a new sense of confidence. Training for my first marathon really helped me to believe more in myself because I always thought “I can’t do xyz” but I actually could!
When I first started running it was in High School for Track and I never really liked it. It wasn’t until years later that I found a passion for it. I have said before that sometimes I don’t see a difference from running, but someone once said to me that you would probably see a difference if you didn’t.
running has certainly given more confidence to try so many new things and I love the discipline. Running has also provided me with my whole social network in real life and virtual which is probably the best benefit
such a great topic, I agree with all the benefits you’ve listed for running!
Yes to all of these reasons. I love how running has changed me in other areas of my life as well…
Yes, yes, yes. Confidence is a big one for me – you never know what you can do until your try!
Those are all wonderful ways to be changed by running and would agree that all have happened to me. I especially like having increased confidence!
These are all SO true! Not all my running friends get the whole discipline thing. They’d rather cut runs short to socialize; it works for some of them, not so much for others. And I know that ti doesn’t work for me. Then again, I guess I’ve always been pretty disciplined when it comes to something that motivates me. We won’t talk about the things that aren’t quite as motivating . . .
And happiness after a run — absolutely! It’s also one of the best stress busters I know. Except maybe this summer. The humidity truly is sucking all the fun out of running. 🙁
Awesome post! I agree with all of your points, especially the attitude adjuster! That couldn’t be more true for me as well.
Running is such an awesome way of life 😉 I’ve “only” been running for 13 years, and wish I’d found it much earlier in my life. That said, all that I’ve learned/gained/experience in those 13 years has been phenomenal. I am still amazed at what my body is capable of doing, and I’m continuing to find new ways to challenge it.
Yes to all of these! I think also pain tolerance or perspective… running has made me much tougher!
I think that running has changed me in many of the same ways as it has you. It has certainly been a huge confidence booster for me, especially since I had told myself for so many years that I couldn’t run.
Such a great post! Running has changed me in many of the same ways – I just wish I had started running earlier in life!