Long-distance running has a way of transforming you, both physically and mentally. It’s a stress-buster and a fitness booster. Since March 2023, I’ve been hitting the road as a long-distance runner. Today, I’m here to share my running journey and the incredible experiences I’ve unlocked along the way.
When I started, my runs were a humble 3 kilometers—short but exhausting. After a practice of about 3 months, I started doing 10-kilometer runs, fueled by determination and healthy eating habits. Unfortunately though, I have become a little rusty lately and am finding it difficult to do more than 5K. But don’t worry—10K is calling, and I plan to answer soon!
Running has given me a lot, and I’m excited to share those lessons and stories with you. Let’s lace up and dive in.
The Magic of Runner’s High
Let me introduce you to runner’s high, which is a euphoric state you sometimes experience while running. During this time, your adrenaline spikes, your pain disappears, and suddenly, you feel invincible. You are all pumped and be like “AAG LAGA DUNGA BENCHO!” If you are a fan of The Weeknd, your head might start playing the song “I Feel It Coming” on repeat. When I experience runner’s high, I can’t help but go on an enthusiastic sprint to celebrate the rush.
Interestingly, I have known this feeling for long but didn’t know it had a name until recently when I stumbled upon a YouTube video by Graham Weaver (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxoCnxlxpIk). In it, he describes how a runner’s high helped him take a life-changing leap. He quit his job—something he’d been hesitating to do for some time—and pursued his dream of starting a company. Imagine that: running gave him the clarity and courage to change his entire life. Now, I’m not saying you’ll suddenly quit your job during a run, but this powerful state of mind can help you see life through a clearer, bolder lens.
The Many Benefits of Running
Running doesn’t just make you feel good—it changes the way you live:
- Better Focus: After a long run, you’re too tired to waste energy on unimportant things. Your mind naturally focuses on what really matters.
- Deep Sleep: Running makes you tired in the best way, so you sleep like a baby. Waking up refreshed feels amazing!
- Healthier Eating: After burning so much energy, your body starts craving healthy food. It’s like your body knows what’s good for it and pushes you to make better choices.
- Positive Cycle: You run, eat well, sleep well, and then repeat. This is one “infinite loop” you’ll actually enjoy (unlike the annoying ones you encountered in programming).
Oh, and let’s not forget the most obvious perk: weight loss. I went from 73 kg to 65 kg, and my body feels fitter and stronger.
A Word of Caution (and a Tale of Woe)
As amazing as running is, it’s important to be careful. If you push yourself too hard, you might get injured. Trust me, I’ve been there.
During last winter, because of the cold weather and also because I got busy with work, I did not go for a run for almost 2 months. And then when I started running again, I started slow by doing 5km runs. One day, I got overexcited and took a leap from running 5km to 10km. Big mistake! My right shin started hurting bad, and I had to stop running again for a few weeks till the pain subsided.
After recovering from the injury, I again started by doing 5km runs. But this time to prevent even the slightest chance of an injury, I did not push myself beyond 5km (that’s me justifying my laziness for not being able to run more than 5km 😉) and that is where I am right now.
The lesson here? Take it slow, listen to your body, and build up your distance gradually.
For the Curious: My Best Timings
Before you ask, let me just say—I know these aren’t world-record speeds. But hey, running isn’t about competing with others; it’s about becoming a better version of yourself. So, here are my personal bests:
- 6.4 km: 30 minutes
- 10 km: 58 minutes
- 15 km: 1 hour 45 minutes
Am I fast? Not really. Am I proud? Absolutely.
Final Thoughts
Running isn’t just a workout; it’s a journey of self-discovery. It teaches you patience, resilience, and the power of showing up—even when you don’t feel like it. Whether you’re chasing a personal best or just trying to clear your head, running has a way of making life feel a little lighter and a lot more meaningful.
So, what happens when you run? You grow, you learn, and if you run long enough, you unlock your own version of runner’s high. Lace up those shoes, hit the road, and find out for yourself.
Acknowledgement
During the writing process, I utilized AI assistance from ChatGPT to refine my ideas and improve the structure of this post.
The cartoon illustration accompanying this blog post was created using OpenAI’s AI tools, including ChatGPT and DALL·E.
AKSHAY AGRAWAL 
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