I can think of a hundred things that are more fun than running. Maybe even more than a hundred. Often when I tell people I’m a runner, they react in a manner I used to react; scrunch up their face in a way that looks like they smelled something awful, and say something along the lines of “ugh I hate running.” That was me two years ago without fail- you couldn’t convince me to do it. And the reality is, there are still moments when I think “ugh” when I start a run because let’s be honest, running isn’t necessarily fun, it’s hard work and pushes your body in ways one doesn’t think of as fun! But when I choose to run, over and over again, it’s not fun I’m chasing, it’s everything else that running brings to the table for me.

To me, running represents an appreciation of mind and body, goals achieved, a sense of belonging and a huge serotonin boost. Every new distance or speed achieved is an emotional moment for me. It also represents how far I’ve come from postpartum depression to checking off miles and races. Crossing a finish line of a race is full of feels; I am so grateful and overwhelmed with what my body and mind are able to achieve. Every moment of new strength is a reminder of the many moments of weakness, and how temporary weakness can be when we do the work of overcoming it. In the months after I started running, it became the thing pulling me through difficult days and moments of doubt. Almost two years later, and it’s still the thing that helps my mind filter through the junk and gain energy to face life’s challenges. It’s not that it was or is fun, it’s that it really saved my sanity and pushed me over the edge towards mental strength in times I needed it most.

And as I sit here and write this, on the eve of my second Half Marathon, I’m not thinking about how fun running 13.1 miles in the rain is going to be. I’m thinking about the nervous excitement as I move forward to the start line surrounded by so many others, from all walks of life. I am thinking about the moment my body reaches its ideal pace and my breathing is used to the extra exertion. I’m thinking about the “alright, just another 15K. Another 10K. Another 5K.” I’m thinking about the people cheering for us as we run, remembering being one of them, thinking “wow I could never do that” but actually.. doing it. But more than anything, I’m thinking about the few seconds it takes to cross the finish line, smiling with every muscle in me face, and the emotions that come with the thought “I did that.”

If you are someone who wants to do more, but thinks “I can’t do that,” I want to challenge you to try. Don’t wait until something feels “fun” and don’t think there will be a better time. The hardest moment in the journey is the moment you decide to go for it and do the thing. We often want the “finish line” moment, but there is no finish line without a start and all the difficult moments in between. The only guarantee is that if you start, you will eventually get somewhere. And who knows? Maybe it will be fun!