Are running and joy connected? I think so! In support of this theory I submit some evidence…
Look at Coach Sarah on the finishing stretch of a hard 4.9 mile fell race in Grindleford, England…this race had 300m of climbing and two river crossings…yet anyone can see how happy she is!
And…look at Triya Roy (MVXC20) as she makes the final turn at Baylands in 2019…
…and at Julia Chang (MVXC 2015) as she records a 1600m PR…
…or even Coach Flatow in the Marine Corp Marathon, with the temp at almost 90!
Anyone who sees these faces can recognize joy and happiness…even while the person is in the middle of a hard, race level effort. Racing is objectively uncomfortable. What is going on, that we can see so much joy?
Running and Joy Go Hand in Hand
Running and joy often have a synergistic relationship. There is some hard science here…aerobic exercise releases endorphins, natural mood elevators, that can give us feelings of happiness–that elusive “runners’ high”. Science would tell us that this endorphin release can give us feelings of well-being and joy before and after running.
There are also lots of intangibles that come with running, that I believe bring us joy. Running gets outside and into nature, letting us connect with the outdoors. I can remember leading a group of sprinters on a run to Matadors’ Point at the end of a track season, and the sprinters exclaiming ‘oh my God, I had no idea that this was so close!’ They all joined cross country the next Fall! How many times have you been stuck by the beauty of the views from the trails in Fremont Older, or gone running on a vacation to explore a new area?
Running brings feelings of accomplishment, whether you are completing a distance or a route that you were aiming towards, improving your pace, or participating in a race. Every personal milestone you reach can bring feelings of pride and joy.
Running can be a social activity–running does not have to be lonely at all! As part of MVXC, you will have many shared experiences with your teammates. Sharing your runs, trading stories, supporting each other, helping your friends and teammates can be rewarding, enriching and joyful!
The sense of personal empowerment, growth and achievement that come with distance running can give us all lasting feelings of joy and satisfaction.
We Gotta Earn It
It’s a fact, though, that running does not bring us joy the first day we lace up our shoes. The first days of running are frustrating to many people. We see how easy running looks for the veterans, the way they bounce off down the road chatting to their companions. For new runners, the first steps feel hard and jarring, and we don’t have the breath to talk to anyone.
What new runners don’t always realize is that we all start the same way. The first day of running is not as joyous as the 20th day, or the 60th. If I could wave a magic wand and get everyone through the first three or six weeks of running, hardly anyone would every drop out of running. Everyone would be hooked on the endorphins, the friendships and companionship, the connections with nature, the feelings of accomplishment!
I’m sending all the positive energy I can to every MVXC runner and MVXC-curious runner! I hope that you all have a solid July of running. Get out with your teammates consistently all month! No single run needs to be heroic. If we all get out together and run a bit every day, then when we get together in August to start the 2023 cross country season, we will share in a lot of joy all August, September, October and November. That sounds good to me, how about you!?!?!
Your Results May Vary!
Look, I get it, everyone is different. Joy is subjective. Everyone’s experience with running will be unique. But for me, and many of the people I know and care about and have coached, running–and putting a lot of effort and determination into our running–has been an enduring source of happiness, satisfaction and joy. I hope with all my heart that this is true for you!
