How Running Made Me a Better Person

The simplest way I learned discipline, patience, and balance

The Life Lessons I Learned From Running

Running has completely changed the way I live. It taught me consistency and shaped a lifestyle that includes cooking my own healthy meals, mastering time management, understanding the human body, and being patient in other areas of life.

Early Challenges Tested My Confidence

Running has always been a part of me. In elementary school, I was on the athletic team and the second fastest runner in my class. Occasionally, we ran 100m races against kids from other schools. I usually came in last, which destroyed my motivation for athletics.

As an adolescent, I started seeing jogging less as a sport and more as a symbol of living well. I admired movies where people ran on the beach at sunrise, drank a green smoothie afterward, and jumped into the shower ready to start the day. That image perfectly captured how I imagined my life.

But reality in adulthood quickly blurred that idealization.

Rock Bottom Didn’t Stop Me from Running

At 23, I was unemployed and hopeless about finding a reliable job after graduation. My lifestyle was the opposite of the life I dreamed of. I remember sitting on the window stool of my shared apartment, having a breakfast of two cheap energy drinks and four cigarettes. I wasn’t in good shape.

Still, I decided to go for a run, barely managing two kilometers with my usual hangover. My lungs burned, I was coughing, and almost had to throw up.

It gave me relief, relief that at least I was trying, even when my life felt out of control. I didn’t give up, and eventually, I found opportunities to move forward.

Building My Athlete Identity

Around 25, after moving to new cities, jogging became a kind of ritual. I took to the streets of my neighborhood that gave me a sense of home, a way to explore my environment differently from tourists.

During this time, I started reflecting on my identity. A psychological article suggested writing down the person you want to become. So I created a note on my phone: I’m an athlete.

At first, running was still a lifestyle choice, not a sport. I had no training plan and hadn’t signed up for any race until the end of 2019, when the pandemic changed everything.

From Jogger to Competitive Athlete

During lockdown, many people started running to get outside. A friend of mine logged kilometers daily until he signed up for his first half marathon. I realized I had never considered racing seriously.

That shifted my perspective. This activity was no longer just a lifestyle habit, it became a sport. I signed up for a marathon relay and ran the first, longest leg. Standing at the start line with hundreds of runners, I felt overwhelmed. That day marked a new chapter in my life, influencing many other areas.

Mastering Planning

Being an ambitious runner requires planning. When I set a goal to run my first half marathon, I learned that the recommended weekly volume is 40 to 60 kilometers. I trained three days a week. I had to balance running, gym sessions, a full-time job, side projects, cooking, and a social life. Short winter days meant I had to schedule runs during daylight

Every minute became valuable. My Apple Calendar became my best friend. I had to be disciplined, waking up at 7 a.m. for side projects and going to bed at 10 p.m. This lifestyle optimization also improved my cooking habits.

Cooking Like a Pro

I preferred to cook my own meals, but planning was time-consuming. Inspiration rarely struck in the middle of the supermarket, and I ended up making the same dishes repeatedly. Then ChatGPT became a game-changer. I asked it to generate meal plans for three days ahead, with shopping lists and instructions.

I refined my prompts to generate healthy, vegetarian meals for active people focused on maintaining muscle. This strategy saved time and money, eliminated decision fatigue, and kept me focused.

Cooking became another skill to practice patience and long-term thinking.

Patience and Long-Term Thinking

Before running became a serious pursuit, I often chased quick results. Marathon training taught me to plan weeks and months ahead. I learned that long-term effort benefits not just the main goal but also other areas of life.

Consistency pays off. My endurance improved steadily, and I brought the same mindset to my work. Sustainability, strategy, and long-term planning became part of my vocabulary. Setbacks no longer discouraged me. Even during company layoffs, I stayed because I believed hard times were temporary.

Understanding the Human Body

Running taught me the importance of body care. Injuries are inevitable without proper preparation. I learned about nutrition, minerals, proteins, carbs, vitamins, rest, hydration, electrolytes, stretching, and complementary strength training.

I researched everything I could online and experimented carefully. Running is more than putting one foot in front of the other, it’s a lesson in self-awareness, resilience, and learning how to optimize your body.

Lessons Beyond Running

Running has shaped my life far beyond fitness. It taught patience, discipline, and long-term thinking. It connected me to my body, mind, and environment. It helped me develop healthy habits, planning skills, and resilience.

Today, I feel aligned with myself. I am stronger, more patient, and more capable of facing life’s challenges. Running didn’t just improve my health, it transformed who I am.

Tomorrow is a new day, and running reminds me that every day brings an opportunity to rise again. If you start running, you might discover more than fitness.

You could find a way to grow in all areas of life.

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