The Running Bug

It's funny how life has a way of bringing you full circle. When I say I've caught the running bug, I'm not talking about some pesky insect or a fleeting fitness trend. I'm talking about rediscovering a passion that had been tucked away in the pocket of an old jacket, forgotten but not gone.

The Humbling Beginning

In February 2024, I decided to add running to my fitness routine. Having exercised consistently since 2020 with various HIIT workouts and weightlifting sessions, I thought running would be a breeze. I couldn't have been more wrong.

My first run was a humbling experience. Just 20 minutes in, my knees were screaming in protest. The aftermath was even more telling – for three days, I walked like a penguin, wincing with each step. Stairs became my nemesis, especially going down. It wasn't about age (though I'm not exactly young anymore); it was simply that my body hadn't run in years.

But here's the thing about challenges – they either break you or make you stronger. After about five sessions, something clicked. I learned to run properly, finding a rhythm that didn't punish my knees. What started as a weekly struggle evolved into a measurable achievement. From barely managing 5-6 kilometers in an hour, I progressed to covering 7.5 kilometers in 45 minutes – that's one kilometer every 6 minutes, a pace I'm quietly proud of.

Unearthing a Buried Dream

The real revelation came through a conversation with my daughter. When she asked why I was running, it triggered a memory from high school. I had wanted to be a track athlete back then, but basketball was the sport I played. Like many teenagers, I followed the crowd, and that running dream got stuffed into that metaphorical jacket pocket.

It's like when you have a favorite jacket with something important in the pocket, but you find a new jacket and hang the old one in your closet. 

But the item isn't lost – it's just waiting to be rediscovered. That's what this running dream was like. It just sat there, patient, while life pulled me in different directions with video games, basketball, and countless other diversions.

Why Run?

The question "Why run?" has multiple answers. Yes, it's about fitness and mixing up my exercise routine. But it's more than that. 

Running builds resilience and what some call antifragility – the ability to get stronger through stress and challenge.

As we age, everything tends to get harder. Our bodies regenerate slower, and biology seems to work against us. But that's exactly why we should push back. Not recklessly, but mindfully. We need to find that sweet spot between challenging ourselves and respecting our limits.

Looking Ahead

My goals aren't about becoming an elite athlete. While I'd love to participate in half-marathons or marathons someday, that's not what drives me to lace up my running shoes. It's about proving to myself that I can do hard things, that I can be better than yesterday, even as the calendar pages keep turning.

Running has taught me that it's never too late to pull out that old jacket, reach into the pocket, and rediscover those dreams we once tucked away. Sometimes, they fit better than we remember.

So here I am, embracing the running bug, one kilometer at a time. It doesn't get easier – but that's exactly the point. We grow through the challenge, through the discomfort, through the early morning wake-up calls and the tired muscles. And somehow, in the rhythm of feet hitting pavement, we find pieces of ourselves we thought we'd lost.