Every single time

Every time I go for a run, I fight against two things: the strength of my body and the strength of my mind. My body has almost never been the real problem. Of course, when I first started running, I had less physical strength than I do now. But it’s the strength of the mind that challenges me every single time—from the very first step until the moment I finish.

It’s not just about whether I run or don’t run. The real battle is with the thoughts that appear while I’m running. My mind gets bombarded with scattered, sometimes even negative thoughts. I suspect that when I run and breathe heavily, my body misinterprets it as anger, which in turn triggers those thoughts. Spending an hour running alone with myself has helped me understand my body and my mind more deeply—but it also brings something new to learn every single day.

What I’ve discovered is that both physical and mental muscles can grow, though not at the same pace. For me, the body has grown faster than the mind. But now, I can often run with a lighter heart, staying present with the act of running itself. And when my mind feels light, I’m surprised by how much further I can go. I’ve realised that I can bring this same state of mind into other areas of life as well. The body and the mind are endlessly fascinating.