If you spend much time on running social media, you’ll see a million different ideas for what the key to improvement in running is. So I might as well tap into that sentiment and offer my thoughts on what the key to improvement is.
(The truth, of course, is that improvement involves many variables but I do believe most, if not all, of those variables rely on this one thing to be in place first.)
It’s easy in running, as in any sport, to focus on the competition. Achievements are all about race results. Thoughts revolve around race day. That’s what it’s all about, right?
The truth is, especially if you want to be a runner for the long term, you need to take a more holistic view of running. It’s not just about race day. It’s about all accomplishments. It’s about finding fulfillment in the pursuit. It’s about running being such a positive part of your life that you want it to remain in your life.
Most of all, it’s all about falling in love with the process, the training, the day to day runs.
January 22, 2026 / Training / 4 minutes of reading
For some reason, runners often get stereotyped as stubborn. I have no idea why. It’s not like we will get our run in regardless of the weather. It’s not like we will run at any time of the day or night to get our runs in. It’s not like we will do anything to avoid missing a workout.
So maybe we are a little stubborn. The good news is that, 99% of the time, being stubborn is a good thing as a runner.