Running One

Hello.

I've been running, which means that I have to write about running now. 

In a move born from my struggle with procrastination, I've been trying to implement more routines into my life, starting with this blog, and now featuring a workout regimen. As you have inferred from above, that workout is running.

I, like many, have been "running," for a long time. Every sport I've practiced has had some amount of sprinting and warm up jogging involved. In fact, warm up jogging and sprinting were all I did when I ran track. I've never really felt like a runner though... The closest I got was during lockdown, when I was putting in around seven miles a week off the back of nightly one mile runs.* I've claimed to hate distance running for a long time, hence the short distance runs I was doing. Something has shifted though.

*Arguably this is enough to be considered a runner, but I think it was more of an, "I work out," thing and less of an "I run" thing. 

My aim is to run nine miles every week broken up over three runs. I'm traveling a previously unthinkable three miles a session, and it's kind of shaking up my life. The runner's high is too real. 

I've got to run because I've decided it's important to do things you claim to not like. As it turns out though, it feels really good to improve at something, and distance running is nice because you get to just think about stuff. Plus it makes me feel more on top of shit and I like being in shape blah blah blah. 

Another highlight of running is less related to me overcoming past obstacles; whilst pounding the pavement I've felt a stronger connection to the immediate world around me. I see streets I've never seen, nod at runners going past me, peek at what people are eating at restaurants I've never been to, and uncover beautiful views I've never seen. 

Here's an example: I took a run around 5pm on Halloween which yielded a nice moment. During said run, I came through a cul-de-sac where a number of aunt and uncle looking people were sat around a table. They called me over and insisted I take a candy, as no children had made it to their alcove yet. Of course I indulged in a bit of banter before taking the bar and going on my way. It felt good to have a little sugar, but more importantly I felt more like a neighborhood guy than I ever have. Of course, I never would've been there in the first place unless I was getting that work in (as in running).  

Today, I ran up a big hill and looked at the San Francisco bay. Even from far away, seeing the ocean is a transformative experience. Next time I run, I'm thinking about going down to the water so I can make it even more meditative.

The whole process feels unique to me primarily because it isn't stressful. When I was fencing, there was the stress inducing feeling that I needed to be improving all the time. When I played high school volleyball, there were goals for the program that I had to play towards, lest I rot on JV for eternity. Even pick up games of basketball can feel stressful at times, as a series of bad shots is liable to leave a person feeling (or anticipating) the glares of their teammates. Of course this may change as I continue to run, but so far I've found comfort in not holding myself to a standard and allowing the run to be more about process and less about product. The mental seems to fare a lot better when coaches aren't whispering in my ear.

The other great thing about running is that I can do it wherever I want. Two weeks ago I went on a great outing down the so-called Mystic River in Medford, MA. Not only did I get a better feel for the place, but I got to run by a river as well. Something about the natural world... I'm hopeful that my running shoes continue to travel with me, so that I can keep exploring through that lens.

List of things I want:

• To run on the beach path when I'm back in LA
• To join a run club when I graduate Berkeley and move to a major coastal US city
• To get cool running shoes after I wear my current ones out
• To increase to fifteen miles a week over four to five sessions

So that's kind of where I'm at on running. Feels great to be doing something new. Also when is a better time to put on a little How Long Gone than when you're getting fit.

See you guys out on the streets.

P.S. I just checked and I implemented my running routine about three weeks ago, so in some ways this is like an affirmation that I won't kick the habit. Thanks for reading!