FOUNDINFASHION

Running is a simple activity.

Running is a difficult sport.

I wanted to get that out of my head first…

Good!

Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved to run. Like every child, I ran around endlessly. With a special fascination for chasing after cars. On errands and on the way to school and back. Or whenever I was returning home from grandma’s house; every day. Simpler times. 

I just really liked the feeling of moving fast. I learnt early that being quicker on my feet was an edge over slower people. 

When I began watching competitive sports, athletics struck me as the most straightforward. Unlike Tennis, there was no opponent staring you down. No combat like in the Martial Arts. And the chaos of Soccer…? 🙄It is just you doing your thing, and your competition doing theirs. Everyone in their designated lane. 

Fast forward to now, and I’ve had to process things better. I would say running is a metaphor for life. There’s an African proverb about the Gazelle and the Lion. It reasons that, “When the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

I believe it strongly. 

Taking up running again has made that noticeable than ever. It’s become an anchor habit. 

I know to eat better as fuel for performance. 

I drink water and hydrate constantly.

I listen to my body and mind my posture. 

It forced me to prioritize sleep (rest and recovery).

I’m still a work in progress, but running keeps me accountable.

Running brings mental clarity and stability. It lays the foundation for a clean bill of health. It awakens the body’s untapped elasticity. Energy and resilience you didn’t even know you had. 

And then there’s the community you discover. The supportive people (other runners) that motivate each other. They show up and cheer you on like family. Doing their best to help ease the burden of the miles. 

Of course, running has its cons. Competitive runners are familiar with the costs. GPS devices, associated apps, subscriptions, shoes, gear, training, marathon fees, travel and most of all, the time involved. 

There’s also the less glamorous side of it. The constant negotiation to stay motivated. Runner’s face, chafing, blisters, black toenails, soreness, injuries, people asking “What’s chasing you?”

That’s the point. Maybe nothing, or no one is chasing me. Like I said earlier, the competition is your (future) self. Every run pushes your cardiovascular limits. You are betting on your own potential. Fine-tuning this biological engine to serve you for much longer.

And that’s why I run. Try it.