First marathon in 2025

I am often asked why I chose running as a sport or form of exercise. My answer is always simple, why not run? I know that is not the answer you are looking for right? 

Well, just think about it? Why not run?

The answer that one would expect me to share is associated with the benefits of running. I could list the benefits but then again I believe Google and other credible sources do that very well. They have already beaten me to it. 

I would rather share my personal benefits that will hopefully encourage you to run.

Two of the reasons that have kept me running are ‘’discipline and resilience’’. You thought I was going to share the physical and mental benefits right. No, I am in no way isolating the physical and mental benefits they are equally essential. I am here to share my personal benefits that have kept me on the streets. 

Discipline 

Discipline being the first personal benefit. Running is a commitment and this commitment is made with yourself first. Before you can commit to any running club you need to commit to yourself. You cannot commit to a running club if you as an individual are not committed to yourself. The role of a running club is to hold you accountable, create community and encourage you to keep running. So, before even considering a running club, first cultivate the spirit of discipline. Cultivating a spirit of discipline is realising that discipline has no emotion. 

Discipline is not ‘’I don’t feel like running today’’. Discipline is even when I don’t feel like it, I have made a commitment to myself. Therefore, I need to wake up and run. Discipline is setting your emotions aside and understanding that emotions are temporary. Discipline also cultivates a strong mind. Discipline is not easy. If retailers would sell discipline we would all purchase it. However, because discipline is cultivated it cannot be bought. 

There are days where your emotions will play mind games on you. You will need to relentlessly fight not to give in. 

Ideally reading about discipline on Monday is daunting. Well, we are here now and let me emphasize this for the last time. You need to have discipline!

Running forcibly taught me how to be disciplined. 

Resilience 

When we read about resilience or being resilient, sometimes we only associate it with strength. Yes, resilience is no doubt associated with strength. However, if  we can draw more into the definition of resilience, adaptability, flexibility, elasticity or springness form part of the definition.

There were days or even months where I would give up on running. I would often feel it was not in me. I would subscribe to the ‘’top runner’’ theories and be overly obsessed with being the best. On other occasions, I just could not see any progress with my pace. I would be mad at myself. Here is the thing, being inspired by other runners is great. However, your running journey is personal and different. You can draw inspiration from industry leaders in the running community and there are many. I have a couple of ‘’faves’’ that I follow online. I even go to the lengths of asking for tips to improve my running.  Yesterday, a top runner was giving tips on the streets. 

With that said, when you think about resilience please also make reference to adaptability, elasticity or springiness just to mention a few. It is because of flexibility that I always find my way back to the streets. Adapting to  the new techniques that other runners have taught me and bouncing back stronger. Running cultivated my resilience. Over time, I will share other lessons that the streets taught me. For now, I will scream discipline and resilience.

Yesterday, I ran my first marathon for 2025. I am looking into running more marathons this year. I am also still in search of a running club and running partner? 

What race are you running next? Let’s meet up at the next race? 

Phiwe Mncwabe is storyteller, blogger and voice in Africa.

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