As of writing this post, since I began running as a serious hobby in 2018, I’ve done the following:

5K races

• Run: 30
• Walked: 3

10K races

• Run: 3
  • I feel like I need to include a disclaimer that these were run virtually during 2020; I haven’t run a 10K race in person yet.

Other races

• 1 mile: 1
• 4 miles: 1

And with some rough math using the data from my Nike Running App, in the same span of time (2018 to now), I’ve run around 1,500 miles total, whether it was regular runs or races. In the grand scheme of runners, I don’t know where all of those numbers put me, but I think it’s pretty impressive.

That being said, I think I have finally accepted that 5K races are my jam/vibe/thing—something that I’m going to continue making part of my brand.

Back in my best running prime (2019 and 2020), I wanted to run a half marathon by the time I turned 30, which would have been by 2024. I never even made it that far, only running three virtual 10Ks during COVID because I had nothing else better to do. My furthest in-person race distance I’ve run is a 4-miler in 2021. (I would have run that same race again in 2022, but I was getting over having COVID.)

So it’s safe to say that I don’t really run farther than a 5K distance (3.1 miles for those at home who don’t want to do the metric conversion and/or those who thought it was 5 miles, like my mom). And this year, I’ve accepted that that’s perfectly okay.

I went through a phase on Instagram where some of the reels popping up were of people’s half or full marathon training. I’m not going to rain on their parade because you do you, but boy, there is no way I’m getting up at 4:00 am to run 18 miles before work (and also the fact that they make it all look so easy). And if I have to start packing snacks for a long-distance run, I’m good—I’d rather stay home and eat snacks.

I know myself, and I am pretty good at talking myself out of doing something. I would prefer to go for a 2.5-3 mile run after work a few times a week, and I’m not against a Saturday morning run (weather depending). There’s no way I could consistently wake up that early in the morning, even run that far, or work that into my weekly schedule. I’m back to taking a weekly dance class, so that fills up an entire night, and sometimes I have volunteer responsibilities to take care of, or when the weather is nice, I sit outside and read.

To me, running is just a hobby, and I make time for it along with my other hobbies.

I talked about all of this with Josh leading up to the Hartford Marathon 5K earlier this month, since the other two races that day are the half and full marathon. Like usual, I was feeling a bit discouraged that I was “only” running the 5K, but he made me realize that it fits into my lifestyle. I don’t have to do any crazy training, and I’m not wiped out for days afterward; on the afternoon of the Hartford 5K, I took a nap, we got festive fall coffees, and had dinner with my parents.

One good thing that came out of those Instagram reels is the idea of running using run/walk intervals. I started doing it on my runs in early September, and it has been a game changer. I use an app on my phone, and it will tell me in my headphones when to start running and start walking; my current interval is 2 minutes run, 45 second walk.

Back in my early running days, I used to always get so mad at myself for having to walk (choosing running as a hobby while having exercise-induced asthma is still questionable), but now I really don’t care and will do what works best for me. I’ve used the intervals on regular runs around the neighborhood and during the three 5K races I did this fall. It’s a bit discouraging to see people passing me early on in the races because I stick with the walking right away, but it doesn’t matter because I’m very happy with my times using this method.

I’m not really sure if I’ve said anything new or groundbreaking here when it comes to running in general, but I’ve noticed a shift in my mentality this year when it comes to running personally. I may never run a marathon, but what I do on the 5K circuit is just as important.