From Couch to One Year: Unpacking My Running Milestone and How You Can Too

I celebrated my running anniversary this weekend in the 408k Race to the Row. Accomplishing this milestone alongside Arjun, who was with me last year, made it special.

Running consistently for a year isn’t a big deal for most people, but it is for me. In 2017, I had a sedentary lifestyle. I turned it around in 2018. By 2019, I logged over 450 miles of running. The year of running saw me move from just under 12 minutes to ~8-9 minutes a mile. The feeling of competing with myself freed me from all pressures.

To ensure I did not quit, I gave myself simple goals. Instead of trying to do too much, I focused on being consistent, which helped me not get hurt.

With 12 races in 2019, I feel comfortable considering myself a runner. Running is now a part of my life. In 2017, if someone had told me I’d be signing up for races around the Bay Area in 2020, I would have laughed them off. And here I am now, not only signing myself up but also urging others to join me.

So, if you are new to running, please find some pointers that might help you.

Get out, get going: The first step is getting out there and running. Pace, distance, and stop-and-go do not matter. Find your groove—music, the trail, the route, a friend, a run club—whatever gets you going, do that. Some folks like to mix it up; I am a creature of habit. Again, do what feels right for you.

Don’t give up: Pretty much everything that can come your way will. Stay focused, make running, and make yourself a priority. Start with a smaller duration and distance. Push yourself to finish that regularly. In the first 2-3 months, you will discover “new” muscles. They will wreak havoc with your brain. These discoveries will test your grit. 

Don’t give up. Don’t quit.
Remember, “Most people give up when they’re about to achieve success.”

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Celebrate: When you achieve your goals, whether small or large, celebrate. Run for a week, a month, a distance, or a time. I even marked the experience of buying new running shoes. It signified that I had worn them off. Be thankful, feel lucky, and rejoice in discovering your own body. It is more than the keeper of our brain; it’s a paradise of our soul. That we are able-bodied to run is a blessing in itself and celebration-worthy. 

Contact me if you want a partner to run a mile, a 5k, or a 10k in the Bay Area. I’d love to be a tiny part of your journey. We can be strava friends, giving kudos for our progress.

Most importantly, enjoy the journey. Good Luck!

PS: Making a special memory of the rare palindrome date (02/02/2020) is noteworthy, too. Arjun and I were disappointed later in the day when the 49ers didn’t finish the job. Onwards...

PPS: Here’s a video of me pre-race looking forward to the event – https://youtu.be/DejWMRXzthg. Thanks to Run Local for creating and sharing this.