The Two Ways I’ve Approached Running | Past & Present

December 5, 2024 | By DLake

There are two ways I’ve approached running over the years. And tbh, it really goes back and forth depending on where my head is.

Past

At first, I started running. I played mental games. I’ll put my shoes on, walk out the door, and run—no plan, no goal, just me, the road, the track, the trail, etc.. Whatever was on my mind, it needed to feel good. During this I don’t care about speed, distance, or any of those sexy nerdy run metrics that I presently obsess over. It was like therapy but without all the talking… which I realized is the annoying but most crucial part of therapy… I digress.

Present

But then things changed because I wanted to see progress. I got serious—and bought a GPS watch to track everything. I began to analyze my separation. With a focus on pace, then heart rate training, and now power efforts and watts. Now, every run has meant something because if it’s not on Strava, did you even run? So, yeah, that’s exciting too. There is a sense of urgency when you see yourself becoming faster or stronger. But it’s… different.

Future?

Now I’m starting to think maybe it’s time to “make running fun again.” Does every run need to be a scientific experiment?

When was the last time you ran just because it felt good? No clock, no data, and just your way?