Dec 29, 2025
I became a runner when COVID first began. I needed a way to exercise and get outside, like a lot of us during that time. Running became the constant amidst a world of change. From dealing with break-ups, moving across the country, grieving loved ones, and starting a business, running kept my mental health level.
But life ebbs and flows. What was once a solid routine to keep me sane eventually created yet another form of comparison. Strava, half-marathons, Apple Watches, the newest shoes, etc. They all invited opportunities to compare myself to others. For example, I ran 7 miles one morning and was feeling pretty happy with the distance and pace. Then I opened Strava and saw a friend of mine had run more miles and at a better pace, so I immediately felt like shit.
Eventually, I decided to run without my watch and without posting the data on Strava. It was freeing. But that opened up a rather large, looming question: "Why am I running if no one is watching?" Yes, I see how silly that is, but so much of our lives is built around performing for others.
Running was no longer a form of self-love, and it was no longer a way to perform for others.
Slowing down — in a very literal sense
The beauty of having a dog is that you have a built-in walk every day. So when I decided to pause running, I knew it didn't require finding a whole new routine. I traded moving fast for moving slow. I traded 6-mile runs for 2-mile walks. I traded rushing through my neighborhood streets for noticing the way the plants & trees around our house change over the course of a year.
I don't post my distance or pace (which would be laughable) on Strava for likes. I don't track exactly how far I go or how many steps I take. I don't track my heart rate. Instead, I can actually feel if my heart is racing a little too fast after a steeper hill. I can tell we (Rosie and I) walked "around 2 miles."
It's shifted how I prioritize my day. Instead of trying to find time to squeeze a run in (knowing I'd have to shower, change, etc after), I now plan meetings around my afternoon walk with Rosie.
Less comparison, more attention
Could I have made similar changes while still running? Of course — I could have not posted to Strava, not tracked my mileage, pace, or heart rate, planned my days around my runs. But one final reason for moving to walks was to deliberately…slow……down.
Everything moves incredibly fast when running a business (an apt phrase for this post). Things move quickly when you're traveling to see family, learning new technology, etc.
Walking has become a practice of rebelling against how quickly our world tries to make us move. It's become a way to pay attention to the people in my neighborhood. To find moments of quiet amongst all the influencers telling us what we should and shouldn't be doing.
And lastly, it's easier. Easier on my knees. Less gear to buy and bring with me when traveling. Easier to be present with my thoughts. Easier to notice things, like a deer tucked away in the trees that I would've missed when rushing by.
I'll always be grateful I have a body that allowed me to run for so long. And I'm equally grateful I have a body that allows me to continue moving, even when the pace changes.