Celebrating the Comeback, Not Just the Distance
Last week, a simple, automated email from SmashRun gave me a jolt of perspective. It was my regular weekly running update, the kind you barely pay attention to, until one line practically leapt off the screen: “the most run in 2 years.”
The number? 34km for the week.
Now, for some runners, that’s just a light weekend. But for me, the shock came from looking back. I’ve been the runner who easily clocked 70km training blocks or 300km months. 34km felt… small. Yet, it was a massive step.
The Curveball Effect
We all get them. For me, my running life came to a grinding halt after I contracted COVID-19 in 2022. It just wasn’t the same. Every step felt like a battle. The joy was gone, replaced by a sense of effort. The external motivation wasn’t there either; I couldn’t find an event that sparked interest or fit with the rest of my life. The engine had stalled.
This year, my guiding word has been “balance,” and it’s been the key to kick-starting things again. It’s not just a fuzzy concept; it’s a non-negotiable strategy. It means finding the sweet spot between my work life and my personal life, and in fitness, it means balancing my time on the road with the necessary strength work in the gym.
I also didn’t realise how much mental baggage I was carrying from a stressful work environment until I made a change. The relief was immediate. With less mental clutter, I started sleeping better. Better sleep equals better training. It’s a simple chain reaction, but you often don’t see the weight until you put it down.
Redefining Success: Effort Over Ego
We are nearing the end of October, and for the first time in what feels like ages, I feel like things are truly falling into place. I’m making ground with my running. Sure, there are detours and days I fall short, but I’ve embraced a new mantra: forward is forward.
It’s so easy to compare the current you to the former you. The faster one, who went further, who never missed a run. I know my body is still capable of those longer distances. But what I’ve learned is that speed no longer matters to me.
The goal has shifted. It’s not about going fast; it’s about the effort and the joy that comes with lacing up.
This past week, I clocked just under 37km. I missed the 38km on the plan, but who truly follows a training plan 100%, anyway? This current block is built on easy runs, building mileage in my legs with a few hills and strides thrown in for spice. The peak week is planned for around 48km. When I looked it up, I had to scroll back to July 2023 for a comparable week!
This is the beauty of a comeback—it shows you that progress isn’t linear, but it is possible.
If you’re stuck right now, in a rut, dealing with an injury, or simply feeling like your past self is out of reach—remember this: celebrate the 34km comeback, not just the 70km peak. Focus on the balance that supports your entire life, not just your fitness goals. Drop the mental baggage that is weighing you down.
My big goal? I’m committed to running an event in 2026. I just need to find the one that fits perfectly with life. But until then, I’ll be out here, putting one foot in front of the other, finding my forward, and enjoying the run again.
What is one small piece of “forward” you can celebrate today?