Choose to Live Fully While Choosing to Run
As warm weather creeps in, it reminds us that summer is approaching and spring racing season is coming to a close. For many, summer beginning signals a new season of training as well—whether you’re aiming for a goal, running for fun, or locking in on a fall race goal, summertime can be daunting for runners. Runners who have trained in the summer before know what the heat can mean, especially as summers get hotter with climate change, running in the heat becomes an even more onerous task to squeeze in early morning or late evening runs to avoid the hottest hours.
That exhaustion from hours training in the heat and narrowed sleep schedules can make it even more challenging to enjoy the carefree nature of summertime as well. I’m not here to talk about how to stay cool, hydrated enough, or fueled enough* during summer training (although I always advise anyone running to properly prepare themselves for the heat). I’m here to talk about the importance of enjoying summer even in the midst of a long, difficult training block. While I am right there with other runners who will be increasing their training volume this summer for my own fall goals, I want to make sure that training doesn’t take over my life.
To be clear, I know other runners share the sentiment that running and training are forms of freedom and fun, and I feel the same. There is nothing wrong with prioritizing your goals and your training. In fact, as a run coach, I am endlessly excited by runners’ determination to go after their own goals and continue to prove their resilience, strength, and willpower through this beautiful sport. That being said, I am hoping to highlight the crucial balance between life and training, between fun and commitment to do the work.
Personally, I like a lifestyle of early bedtimes and early mornings that begin with a run; but in the hours between running and sleeping, I want my life to feel full. I want to have the energy to spend the entire day at a beach or a lake with friends. I want to make the time for weekend getaways where I don’t stress about fitting in a long run or even missing a run here and there. I don’t want my training to take over my life, nor do I want my training to feel like a second job.
The reality is, training for a marathon can feel like a second job. But choosing to run means choosing it for joy, not out of obligation or punishment. Before you even begin training for anything, define your “why.” Why do you have this goal? Why did you choose that race? Why are you running, of all forms of exercise? Why do you keep showing up, even when you know that the heat will suck the life out of you at times? Why do you choose to run?
I run because it makes me feel confident and strong. I run because there is nothing compared to conquering a hard workout. I run because the more I show up, the more I push myself and prove I am capable of more than I once believed, the more I feel I can do anything. Those reminders help me see why I want to train through the summer. But before I get serious, I want to make sure I go into training with a healthy mindset and do not lose sight of the childlike joys summer offers.
I recently turned 24. Not too far from memories of childhood summers, where June signaled a renewed freedom and sunshine welcomed long days outside with friends. I don’t want to lose sight of that as I shift my mindset to focus on my goals, and I encourage others to do the same.
I know that summer will bring an isolated marathon training season without friends to run with, and I’m prepared for that. I value those long, early morning runs where I listen to podcasts aplenty or simply the sounds of birds welcoming the sun, my feet hitting the pavement, and my breaths working hard to stay in control. While I find solace in those runs, I am determined to balance those hours of hard work alone with even more hours of the glowing happiness I feel when I’m around people I love or when I’m exploring new places.
Runners are often very determined, disciplined people—which are great attributes generally, but can sometimes lead to prioritizing training too much. It can lead to obsession over never missing a workout or hitting certain mileage. It can lead to a life that is built around running, rather than running being built into your life. I chose to write about this at the precipice of summer because I wish for everyone to find joy these next few months. Whether that looks like friends tagging along on training runs or taking a vacation with no running at all, I don’t want any runner to forget why they are running, nor to lose the opportunity of an already full life outside of running.
“Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. If you’re going to while away the years, it’s far better to live them with clear goals and fully alive than in a fog, and I believe running helps you do that. Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that’s the essence of running, and a metaphor for life,” writer Haruki Murakami wrote in his book, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.
I hope that running helps people see what they are capable of outside of the sport, as it does for me. I hope every runner can feel they are choosing to run in ways that make their lives feel full, not as though their training is depriving them of the joys that summer can bring. Don’t end the summer hating running. Don’t end it with regrets of missed laughter and missed opportunities to be with people you love.
*On a more practical note—remember that the heat demands more of your body, meaning your glycogen stores will deplete even quicker. Adjust your fueling accordingly, taking in more than you think you may need, and seek insight from a registered dietitian specialized to work with runners. If you want to feel good and recover quicker from harder efforts, fueling and hydration is ESSENTIAL). Fueling and hydrating properly is how you ensure you have the energy for everything you hope to do outside of running.
