One step at a time: In running, in leadership, in life.
What running is teaching me about discomfort, discipline, and showing up for yourself.
People seem to fall into one of three camps when it comes to running: love it, hate it, or do it just because. I’m in the hate-love club! Being completely honest here, I lean a little more towards dislike not hate (hate feels too strong a word given I willingly put my shoes on and head out the door!)
And yes, if you’re here for reflections on career growth and leadership, stay with me - this ties in, I promise.
I run because it’s not my natural or preferred form of movement. Give me HIIT and burpees any day (though my knees are starting to disagree with that sentiment). I’ve got a well-equipped home gym, and I’m aware of the privilege that comes with being able to choose how and when I move each day. I follow a rough schedule to get different forms of exercise in, whether it’s strength training, Pilates, HIIT, or running, but I still let my mind and body steer the decision on the day. Unsurprisingly, the “easy” (ie more fun and quicker) options usually win. Running often gets pushed to the side without much thought.
So why do I bother with it?
Running challenges me mentally and physically. Every time I get out there, I’m conditioning myself to remember: I can do hard things. Especially when I have all the excuses (too dark, too hot, too windy, too late, my toe hurts, my dog needs a cuddle…). I still go, I commit, and I get it done.
Going for a run a low-stakes way for me to flex the resilience muscle (all puns intended): whilst it’s uncomfortable, it’s 100% my choice to do it and I’m not doing it for anyone else but me (no-one is making me go, and I’m not letting anyone down if I don’t go).
Plus, the feeling afterwards is that of accomplishment and pride (and tiredness). Runners high is a real thing!! It is also proof that I showed up for myself.
Tying it back into careers, leadership and confidence
Finishing a run reminds me of the satisfaction after pulling off something big at work. And while those moments are worth celebrating, it’s the quiet, consistent wins that build our confidence and carry us forward.
Running continues to teach me that success isn’t always about speed, outcome, or doing one-better than last time.
It’s about consistency, effort, and showing up, especially when I don’t feel like it.
And that consistency (plus other effort in between to contribute to the goal) leads to growth.
What running has taught me about work and leadership
It’s a mental game. The repetition, the endurance, the rhythm of one foot in front of the other…it feels meditative. With nothing else to focus on (besides how tired my legs are), I can actually think. I often listen to audio books when I run because it’s (1) it’s launch a large chunk of interrupted time, and (2) I need something I can get hooked into so I’m not thinking about the run itself.
It helps loosen my grip on perfection. I track my runs, and I’ll admit it - I always check my times first. I’m competitive and driven, so it’s easy for me to fall into the mindset of every run should be better than the last. Running is helping me break that habit as I’m learning to look at the numbers, log the time, and just move on. Some days I feel strong and ready, other days my legs feel heavy or I’m just not into it which is reflected in the times. And that is A-OK. It’s a practice in accepting where I’m at without needing to constantly outdo myself.
It keeps comparison in check. Running has taught me to stay in my lane - literally and figuratively. I don’t measure my pace against anyone else’s because I know we all have different motivators, limits, and goals. Same goes for careers: we’re not all running the same race or even on the same path for that matter, and there’s no single finish line. What matters is that I keep showing up for my own version of progress.
It slows me down to speed up. Long runs wipe me out so I only plan them on days off because I know I’ll need rest afterwards. They force me to pause and take time for me and actually recharge. The balance between exertion and rest has made me better at managing my energy, not just my time.
In a world (and workplace) that often values busyness, output, and achievement, running reminds me to value effort, intentionality, and pacing.
The Final Stretch
Running isn’t just exercise for me. It’s an intentional act of forcing me out of my comfort zone to build resilience and growth. Every run reinforces that I have what it takes to push through discomfort, not just on the footpath, but in life and leadership too.
And maybe that’s the real lesson here: showing up for yourself - even when it’s hard - is where self-trust and self-leadership is built. Whether it’s running or a daunting work challenge, it starts the same way…
One step at a time.
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