It's Okay to Walk

Last Sunday I went for a run. I like to run. I don't go as often as I'd like or as far as I'd like, but I do run. Running and sleeping are about the only two times during my day that I disconnect from technology. And aside from the physical benefits, running teaches me a lot about life. 

I like to run because I get to decide when and how far I'll go, which path I'll take, how fast I'll run, and when I want to give up and just walk. When else do you have this much control? Ironically, even when I end up walking more than half of the trip, people often say to me - "I saw you running last week". Nobody ever says they saw me walking. The fact that nobody ever sees me walking is not luck, it's strategy. Like many of you, whenever I'm going down a main road where people may see me, past restaurants, bars, coffees shops - I'm always running. I don't want people to see me walking and think that I'm out of shape or that I give up easily.

It's like a Facebook post. Nobody ever writes " Tonight, I went to the gym and screwed around for an hour". "This week, I went on vacation and had a mediocre time". "Here is a picture me and my significant other - we are smiling but unhappy". Heck no! We want people to believe our lives are a present day Leave it to Beaver. When I'm running, I want people to think I'm Steve Prefontaine. Don't you remember how disappointed everyone was when Forrest Gump just gave up? 

Last Sunday I went for a run. My goal was to run five miles. I made it about 2.5 and after a big hill I was beat. I gave up and started walking, and just as I did I ran into a friend who is much more of an avid runner than I. My cover was blown - or so I thought. He stopped to walk along side me and told me he was half way through an 11-mile run. I embarrassingly laughed as I told him I was at mile 2.5, worn out and needed to walk. He responded "It's okay to walk. When you stop to walk, it gives you a chance to think about why you are running." He told me that when he first started running, he'd barely make it a mile before he needed to walk. Then two miles and he'd walk. Then five miles and walk. He reminded me that it's better to run and walk, then do nothing at all. Then he took off running. To a 31-year old who spent my 20's sprinting through life and hoping people would metaphorically only see me running, this comment resonated with me. 

Especially when we are younger, life can feel like a race, trying to outpace the next guy. Be the first to get the big promotion, buy the big house, meet the right person and get married, have the two perfect kids, and run a marathon without slowing down... But in life, just like in running, we all go at different paces. We reach different points at different times.

Sometimes it feels like you are running downhill with the wind at your back in perfect weather while a crowd of people cheer you on, and other times it seems like you are running up a mountain through a hurricane while a peanut gallery of your biggest critics heckle you.

But we don't give up, we persevere, we enjoy the journey at our own pace. We push ourselves to be better, physically and mentally, and run when we can. But when the run gets tough, we don't just give up and throw in the towel. We know that as long as we keep moving forward, it's okay to slow down and walk. We stop trying to get to the finish line so quickly and we start trying to enjoy the journey. 

Last Sunday I went for a run. I wanted to complete 5-miles and I did. I learned that I need to keep training. I learned that regardless of the distance, each person faces their own challenges. And I learned that I need to only run for me, and not to impress others. But most importantly, I'm glad that someone saw me - because I was reminded that as long you as stay focused on your goals and keep going, It's okay to walk. 

About the Author:

David Chambliss is currently the author of zero books. He is proud to be from the Buckeye State, has acquired a love/hate relationship with coffee, and occasionally gets carsick in the back of New York City cabs. When he's not traveling the country preaching the good word about The Ohio State University, he is training for his first Century bike ride in August, reading and talking about the future of Higher Education, and trying his best to successfully navigate his early 30's.

Like what you read OR have advice/feedback for a young(ish) lad who desperately wants LinkedIn to make him an "Influencer" even though he puts shameless plugs in his bio? Feel free to email him...I mean, me - [email protected].