When I first started running, I assumed it was simple. Put on a pair of shoes, step outside, and start moving. How hard could it be? Within a few minutes, I found out. My legs felt heavy, my lungs burned, and my mind kept telling me to stop. I thought running was supposed to feel freeing, but in those early days, it felt like a battle. Still, I kept going, even if it was just for ten or fifteen minutes at a time. Somewhere between those awkward first runs and the quiet hours that came later, I started to understand what people meant when they talked about the runner’s high.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that running is more mental than physical. Some days my body feels fine, but my motivation doesn’t show up. On those days, I remind myself that it’s okay to slow down. Walking breaks are not failures; they’re part of the process. I’ve also learned the importance of rest days. In the beginning, I thought running every day would make me better faster, but it only made me sore and exhausted. Giving my body time to recover actually helped me improve.
Another small but important change that made a huge difference was switching to shoes with arch support insoles. I used to come home with sore heels and tired feet, not realizing that the problem wasn’t my running, it was my footwear. Once I added proper support, I noticed a big improvement. My posture felt better, and I could run longer without pain. It’s funny how something so small can completely change how you feel after a run.
I’ve felt confident enough to invest in running gear & my first ‘big girl’ running shoes (I went with the Nike Vomero 17).
Now, running has become my quiet time. It’s when I clear my head, think through problems & just enjoy being outside. I’ve stopped chasing speed and started focusing on how it feels to move forward, one step at a time. It’s been nine weeks of running & I can see myself doing this for a very long time.
