Why I Run

This morning, for example. I woke up later than planned. I was behind on two work projects. I’d already run a few times this week. My throat felt scratchy. It was cold. It was windy. It was Thursday.

And honestly? I just didn’t want to.

I’ve been running since high school which is kind of wild considering how I have asthma & I dread it. That pit in the stomach feeling never really goes away. I can always find a new excuse not to go. And yet, more often than not, I still lacing up my Altras, hit record on Strava, and get those miles in.

Why?

David Goggins once said, “Motivation is crap. Motivation comes and goes. When you’re driven, whatever is in front of you will get destroyed.” That line hits hard.

Most days, I’m not “motivated” to run. But I go anyway. I show up, not because it’s easy, but because I’ve learned to push past the excuses. The discipline, the “doing it anyway” is just the principle that one has to live life by for success.

Lately, the reason I’ve been polishing most is this: nothing shifts my mood quite like a run. I’ve tested all the alternatives hoops, pickleball rallies, crossfit, golf, aimless city strolls… But running? Running cuts through the noise. It flips the switch.. The endorphins kick in, my blood starts pumping, and suddenly I feel like myself again. Add a post run coffee to the mix and I’m borderline invincible.

Sure, the starting line is full of resistance tired limbs, self doubt, excuses. But the finish line? That’s where I find clarity, confidence, sometimes even creative inspiration. If I don’t work out, I’m cranky. If I do, the world feels manageable again.

So yes, I might dislike running. But the truth is: it makes me happy and keeps me discipline.

A few other things I remind myself when I’m not in the mood:

• Just do seven minutes. I’ve got a mental tip that works every time: I tell myself, “Just run for seven minutes.” That’s it. No pressure to go farther. And honestly? I never stop at seven. Once I’m out there and moving, the momentum kicks in and I keep going.
• Running is always there. Running is always there. Traveling, on vacation, staying in an Airbnb with no gym in sight. No equipment, no schedule, no fancy setup just shoes and a bit of space. I’ve done laps in parking lots, around hotel courtyards, even through empty streets at sunrise. It’s simple, reliable, and always accessible.
• It’s the most efficient mood boost I know. Even a short jog is better than nothing and something is always better than nothing.
• Time alone. Running gives me a rare stretch of solitude, where I’m unreachable and uninterrupted. Or, it can be social if I want it to be.
• Fresh air. The gym will always have its place, but being outside cold, rain, snow, 4a.m. doesn’t matter it truly does something good to the soul.
• It builds a base. Running makes me better at all the other things I enjoy more: MMA, Work, Swimming.
• You don’t have to think. Sometimes, I just need to move without having to think or track weights. Just move!!!
• It’s humbling. I’ll never be the fastest, and that’s okay. It reminds me to appreciate what my body can do.
• It’s a privilege. When I pass someone pushing a walker or missing a leg from a tragedy, I remember: just how blessed I am with the ability to Run.

I might never love running in the traditional sense. But I love what it gives me. And that’s enough to keep showing up one creaky, reluctant step at a time.

Until next time,
— Logan Miller