Running

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about running and the beauty behind the sport

The Miami Half Marathon is in two weeks, and honestly, I am a bit scared.

I have already ran several half marathons, my first one in 2018 in Panama, and then two in Miami; one in 2022 and the other one last year. When you are training for any race, there is always a huge time commitment involved. Training becomes a huge priority, and it can become quite difficult to manage to stick to the plan if you have other plans or priorities at the same time. For this particular race, I didn’t prepare that far in advance. So, in order to alleviate the personal pressure, I decided that the focus for this particular half marathon is to simply enjoy the race and not necessarily aim to break a personal record.

My running journey began in Panama in 2015. I had just graduated from college and was in the search for a new sport that could support me in losing the weight I had gained for the past 4 years while being a student. Running was never the first option, in fact it was probably the last of my options since I never considered myself to be a runner, and whenever I had to run I always dreaded it.

I didn’t fall in love with it until I started to date a runner in Panama. To provide you with some context, I had just reconnected with one of my childhood crushes. We met at a summer camp and had a mutual crush on each other that lasted through about four camp seasons. However, given that we were young and very shy, neither of us was brave enough to confess how we felt about each other. Fast forward a couple of years and we bumped into one another in Panama and found out that we were neighbors.

During that reunion and reconnection, I was nervous and a bit desperate, so I accepted to go on a run with him as a first date. At that time I didn't even own a pair of running shoes and I remember that when I accepted the date, the first thing I did was go out and buy my first ever pair of running shoes.

He obviously realized I was a newbie and was sweet enough to go at my pace and allow me to take my time to slowly get the hang of it.

I am not going to lie, when you begin to run it’s a challenge. Neither your body nor your mind is accustomed to covering long distances while focusing on your breath and avoiding the pressure of improving your pace. It takes a while to get used to the sport, and on those days that you are mentally exhausted, running can either be a huge challenge or a great way to completely unplug and process all your thoughts and emotions.

Today, I do consider myself to be a runner. I have adjusted the definition of what it means to be a runner. The fact that I run on a weekly basis makes me a runner. If you’re nervous about becoming a runner and afraid of the challenges of being a beginner, remember this: the fact that you’re running already makes you a runner.

As James Clear says:

-The goal is not to read a book, the goal is to become a reader.

-The goal is not to run a marathon, the goal is to become a runner.

-The goal is not to learn an instrument, the goal is to become a musician.

This year, focus on the identity you want to build.”