Running, at first, was a part of that cycle too. The promise of its very legit health benefits was quickly overshadowed by classic excuses and my “Eh, I’ll do it tomorrow!” attitude. But nothing gets you to stick with a goal quite like registering for a coveted, once-a-year marathon that, for one, is notoriously difficult to even sign up for. (To get into the NYC one, for example, you either need a super speedy finishing time—which, shocker, I didn’t have—to raise thousands of dollars for a charity, run nine qualifying races the year before, or take your chances with a highly selective lottery that has a less-than-3% acceptance rate.)
That’s not all. Once you’re in, you still have to pay a hefty $300 registration fee months before. So the cost, effort, and sheer difficulty of even earning a spot make the idea of backing out unthinkable, providing the kind of accountability I need to follow through far more effectively than an elusive goal like “getting in shape.”
2. Marathon training provides built-in structure when life is falling apart.
For so long, my life seemed to follow a linear path: Graduate. Get a job. Maybe settle down. Then…what? Without straightforward benchmarks of “progress,” I was left to figure out the trajectory of my future by myself—which is equal parts liberating and disorienting.
Oddly enough, running became the only thing to give me the discipline to work toward something, but in a way that wasn’t so rigid or pressure-inducing. Marathon training, by design, is a step-by-step process: You need some sort of plan to make it through 26.2 miles, whether you’re leisurely jogging twice a week and gradually upping the mileage as you like or following a strict 20-week regimen packed with intense tempo runs and long-distance days. And unlike so many parts of life that feel open-ended, powering through hours of sweaty cardio comes with a clear endpoint—a tangible goal that’s a lot more measurable (and, let’s be honest, attainable) than answering the messy unknowns of a five-year career plan or when to consider having kids.
3. You don’t need much to start running.
Many highly recommended hobbies that are supposed to help you feel good (like yoga, boxing classes, even a standard gym membership) can get expensive—not to mention, are inaccessible if you’re constantly traveling or living somewhere with limited options. Others, frankly, are tough to get into when you’re starting from scratch as an adult. Learning a new language, say, or playing the piano sounds cool, until you realize that getting through the basics can be so overwhelming that you lose steam before even beginning.
Then…there’s running. It doesn’t matter how old you are or where you’re starting: Anyone, regardless of age or experience, can give it a go, as SELF previously reported (even folks in their middle or later years). And part of what makes it so accessible is how little it demands. No specialty supplies (like $80 acrylic canvases or bulky baking equipment hogging space in your kitchen cabinets). No fancy subscriptions or memberships. No need for a certified instructor to guide you through every step. Just a solid pair of sneakers (you don’t actually need the latest $250 super shoe) and whatever outdoor space is at your disposal—a bustling park, a quiet stretch of sidewalk, or even around your block. And if you’re feeling competitive, there are tons of local (and free) 5Ks or even marathons that cost a fraction of what you’d pay in NYC.
4. You don’t have to be “fast” to be accomplished.
For anyone who grew up chasing gold stars, the fear of “being bad” at something can stop you from even trying. In fact, this very mindset initially kept me from hitting the pavement, stepping on a treadmill, or calling myself a casual “runner.” What if I was “too slow”? Was my form terrible? Who will judge me if, God forbid, I stop to walk?
