The Happy Runner: Love the Process, Get Faster, Run Longer

At some point in that trajectory, you’ll peak without realizing it, only to have an epiphany one day that your best is behind you.

But fleshing out a “Why?” that stands up to all the external judgment inherent in a running life can help you avoid crises of self-confidence.

Love where you are, love who you are with, and be happy in the present. The finish line is coming for all runners, and no one wants to be the first to break the tape.

“I am a runner because I love it sometimes, I hate it other times, and no matter what it makes me a better person.” Yes “I run and I race because I never know when it will provide an unforgettable moment of enduring beauty, and I’m willing to wade through the stuff along the way to get there.” Yes “I run and I race because of community, health, fun

For love, it’s all about bringing energy into the bond that strengthens it even as everything else changes and falls apart around it. That’s why long-term relationships require a renewed daily commitment. It’s why a running life requires an evolving appreciation of the joy of each day. Heck, it might work for dogs, too.

2. Second, ask yourself: “Why do I run each day?”

Stop-and-start running training is a surefire way to make running miserable.

the external validation of results and achievements doesn’t mean much in the end.

choose the adventures each year that matter to you most. If you have too many important events, it’ll be tempting to jump from lily pad to lily pad, changing approach and thinking short term instead of piling up training bricks over time.