Before the Storm
It was time for another beginning.
I call it another beginning because over the years, I’ve started running more times than I can count — and never stuck with it. This time, a nagging thought made me anxious: What if this is my first… and last run again?
But everything seemed to line up. The weather was finally improving after a long winter. The sun was out, I was working from home, and I had a spare hour. For the first time in weeks, one of the kids—
(You might want to complete that sentence above.)
Off I Went
ChatGPT’s plan for the day was: 1-minute run, 1.5-minute walk, repeated 10 times. But I felt like I could do more — so I flipped it: 1.5-minute run, 1-minute walk. Classic beginner move, right?
And like a classic beginner, I also skipped the warm-up. Ten seconds in, my ankles and (pretty bad) knees started complaining. Maybe those “pros” know a thing or two after all…
Still, I pushed through. It wasn’t too hard, and I wanted to track my progress — pace, distance, calories, the works. So I spent the walking breaks browsing for an app. (Stick around — I’ll tell you which one I recommend at the end.)
First Run Epilogue
After 25 minutes of knee pain and breathlessness, I was done.
To some, that may not seem like much. And maybe it wasn’t. But for me, this wasn’t about crushing records or maxing out my lungs. It was about going for a run, finishing it, and — most importantly — feeling ready for the next one.
In the past, I’d set strict goals: “Run X distance” or “Don’t stop before Y minutes.” And when I needed a break, it felt like I had failed.
This time was different.
By alternating short runs and walks — thanks to my chatbot training program — I avoided that mental trap. I finished with energy to spare, which felt like a huge win. Whenever I felt like stopping, I’d look at the clock and see, “Only 10–20 seconds left,” and I’d push through. That small mental win made all the difference.
What Now?
What Now?
I took the first step on my new journey — and it felt amazing. Not because I love running, but because I love how it made me feel:
Like I was finally living up to a promise I made to myself.
And the app? After downloading five different “free” apps (that were really just paywalls in disguise), I found exactly what I needed:
The Adidas Running App.
It tracked everything I needed — for free. (Yes, there’s a premium version, but I didn’t need it.)
Even better, it offers built-in challenges like “Run 15K in a Month” where you earn digital badges. As someone who gets a dopamine hit from unlocking shiny rewards, this little touch gave me an extra boost of motivation.
Final Tip
If you’re someone like me who’s started over again and again — just get out the door. Start small. Use a plan that builds you up. And let it be okay to walk.
I’m not running to become a runner.
I’m running to become someone who keeps promises to himself.
Want to follow the rest of my runs? Check out all posts.
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