This is how running taught me about finding my focus and determination.
To be honest, I wasn’t very active and didn’t engage in daily exercise routines like push-ups, squats, or runs. I didn’t think exercise was very beneficial for my mind and body, and it just made me sweat. Although I had a gym membership, I rarely went because I kept telling myself I didn’t have time, when in reality, I just didn’t prioritize exercise in my schedule.
It wasn’t my priority. I didn’t get seriously into it. Until I felt burnout, my mind was not thinking clearly, and bored to death. I needed to change some things, especially my health (body and mind). That’s why since around early this year, I’ve always been putting time to go to the gym to get myself healthy, but it was initially tough. My mind kept rejecting it.
But, as Wise man says:
“You can achieve anything that you set your mind to”
Every night under the moonlight, I would reflect on that quote and push myself to go to the gym and start running. Running is the quickest way to shed weight and release toxins by sweating.
Running was very challenging because I didn’t particularly enjoy it. I wouldn’t say I like it because it’s a repetitive exercise that doesn’t require much mental effort — you simply move your legs forward until you’re exhausted. It drains your energy and needs a clearer ending like other sports, such as basketball, football, and Tennis, with a scoring system indicating when the game is finished.
As a tennis enthusiast who values both mental and physical endurance, I find great satisfaction in defeating opponents with a strategic plan that I create based on their playing style. However, this approach doesn’t work with running since the opponent is oneself, leading to boredom and exhaustion. Despite my initial assumptions, I have realized that sometimes overthinking can lead to incorrect assumptions.
Running helps me improve my focus and endurance while pushing my limits. Despite any pain I may experience, I can stay determined and focused on my goals without getting distracted by external distractions. Physically, it’s helped me become a better version of myself.
Moreover, I always feel a positive boost after a good run. Additionally, the more I run, my mind feels happier and healthier. The more exciting part is the more you run, the happier you get and healthier your mind is.
I swear. Why? Because it releases dopamine. It’s hormon that’s responsible for your happiness. Even though you’ll feel pain in your legs or body, you’ll be happy no matter what and just want to keep going for it. Somehow, your body will tells you to,”come on dude, you can do it, just one more kilo,” and without you know it, you just added three more kilos from what you thought you could manage to do in the first place. That’s what i feel. It’s getting addictive as you do this more frequently.
Running is an excellent exercise that can help you test your limits and push yourself further, even when you feel discomfort. Doing so lets you discover just how much pain your body can handle.
Surprisingly, the most challenging aspect of running is typically limited to the first 20 minutes. After that, the difficulty level increases, but it can also be enjoyable.
It’s a fact! As you run and work up a sweat, your brain releases dopamine, making you feel happy and motivated to keep going. This newfound energy will keep you going until you reach your goals, like running your first 10K and feeling alive like never before. That happened to me, and it could happen to you too!
Lately, I’ve been passionate about running, and it has positively impacted my overall well-being. Running has given me a sense of purpose and motivation in all aspects of my life. I am determined to complete my first full marathon within the next year or two and hopefully participate in more marathons in different countries with positive energy. This experience will be particularly meaningful in my mid-20s.
I wanted to share some thoughts about my new hobby in 2018. It’s been beneficial for me — it’s helped me become more focused and determined to pursue my goals. Overall, it’s been the highlight of my year so far.
When in doubt, I run!
