Runport 2024: My Year in Running
( Dec.31.2024 )
It seems fair to say that my life can be divided into before and after April 4, 2024.
Since childhood, perhaps genetically predisposed, I've always had a knack for sprinting and relay races. I was confident enough in sprinting to place third in the 400m event at city-level competitions. However, long-distance running was a different story; I was never better than the last five even in class.
Doing CrossFit with friends barely ten years younger was no easy feat. Not because I couldn’t lift heavy weights, but because after a few laps, my heart felt like it was about to burst and my breath would fill up to my throat, leading me to fearfully opt for lighter weights. Feeling the limits of my cardiovascular endurance, I wanted to improve it.
I decided to run 5K every morning. On April 4th, I ran a long distance of over 1K for the first time in about 20 years.
I made a promise to myself to just keep going, even if I would have to walk when it got tough. Gradually, as these mornings accumulated, I slowly began to see myself moving beyond what I thought were my limits.
The very idea of running far was daunting, so I started on the treadmill in my apartment gym. The first day, running even 1Km was a struggle. With a mindset of 'just one more minute!' I managed to complete 5Km, taking three breaks along the way.
From the first strides to a month of commitment. This collection captures the humble beginnings of my journey. These screens are more than just numbers; they are the milestones of my commitment and the promise I made to myself. Slow but steady, these runs are shaping me. Here’s to the journey that’s just begun.
After a month, May 4th turned out to be a Saturday with splendid sunshine, so I seized the opportunity to run my first outdoor 5K under the sun. Perhaps it was the better oxygen flow, the constantly changing scenery that lessened the boredom, or the thrill of running outdoors like the people I've always admired. Whatever the reason, it felt easier than running on the treadmill. I couldn’t believe I had become someone who could run a 5K!
Pieces of memories from my first outdoor 5K run. Just me, my quirky running partner—a kid's water bottle, perfectly compact and grippy—and the vibrant spring scenes along the creek. Every step through this lush landscape was a breath of fresh air that brought me closer to nature and the runner I aspire to become.
Since my first outdoor 5K run, the fear of running outside has been replaced by joy—a joy I had never known before. Although I used to spend 1-2 hours walking outdoors, running at a faster pace has allowed me to cover more distance and discover more sights. The ever-changing landscapes and the realization of the distances I've conquered with my own two legs have doubled my sense of pride. Since that day, I've run outdoors on most days, except when time is tight, the rain is heavy enough to soak me, or the temperature climbs above 35 degrees Celsius, turning the outdoors into a giant oven.
Having started running in the early warmth of spring, the time has swiftly passed. I found myself wishing for gills during the sweltering and humid summer, welcomed the cool air of the colorful autumn, and finally, reached my favorite: the quiet, white winter. It was wonderful to witness the changing seasons in such detail. Before I started running, most landscapes I saw were fleeting glimpses through a car window, passing by at 60 km/h. Running allowed me to thoroughly explore the world at a fraction of that speed, and even to explore narrow paths inaccessible to cars. I enjoyed being able to fully immerse myself in each season as it arrived, slowly but surely, each at its own pace.
Milestones & Goals
I spent the seasons mostly running alone, and sometimes with others. Consistency led to months where I ran over 100K. According to the Nike Running Club, my running stats for this year included 100 hours, 117 runs, and an average of 102.5K per month.
The accumulated consistency paid off. For the first time in my life, I participated in a 10K race, two trail runs, and even a Spartan Race. Additionally, I've run a distance equivalent to a half marathon three times—all challenges that were unimaginable before April.
My official 10K time this year was 1:03:20. For next year, my goal is to break the one-hour mark. I also aim to increase my monthly average to 150K and to challenge myself with a half marathon.
For now, rather than striving to be faster, I aspire to run consistently—further and for longer.
What Running Meant to me.
My 2024 has been severe since March, and in mid-August, it shattered completely when my family's beloved dog, who had been with us for over 14 years, crossed the rainbow bridge. It was the first time I faced the absence of a dearly loved one. I thought I had prepared myself for the approaching farewell, but confronting the reality was far harder than I expected. The emptiness was too profound to simply endure as if nothing had happened.
While running, I could not think of anything else. All my focus went into maintaining my breath, steps, rhythm, and posture—there was no room for anything else. These mentally clouded moments of running became an escape from the grim reality and, paradoxically, also gave me the strength to live through my precious present.
I don’t exercise, laugh, and run because every aspect of life is always perfect. Instead, I sweat and run to give myself a breather, to keep standing, and sometimes just to cope with and manage the day’s challenges. It's my way to press pause on life's pressures and regain my footing, allowing me to stay composed through the ups and downs.
I wonder if I could have endured this year without running. I'm grateful that I decided to run and have kept a promise to myself.
Though slow, I'm thankful that I'm still running. I hope it continues to hold me together and help me become a better version of myself in the coming year.