4: A Personal Path from Walking to Running

Ever wondered what could turn a casual walker into a passionate runner? I was once in those very shoes, but a serendipitous encounter at a newly opened running store and an inspiring tale of transformation heard over lunch set me on an unexpected path. This episode pulls back the curtain on my personal running chronicles, highlighting how a simple act of purchasing my first pair of running sneakers catapulted me  to the exhilarating world of running, culminating in the achievement of my first half marathon two years after my initial local 5K.

In sharing my story, I also peel back the layers of the emotional and physical rollercoaster that accompanies any fitness journey. Balancing the discipline of running with the serenity of yoga, I've come to embrace the fluctuations that are part and parcel of evolving as a runner. This narrative is not just about the milestones but the nuanced lessons along the way, and I'm excited to give you a glimpse into future episodes where we'll unpack even more running wisdom together. So, strap on your headphones and let's go for a run down memory lane, exploring the rich tapestry of experiences that have shaped my running life and hopefully, inspire yours.

Mats and Miles is a weekly show about yoga, running, and Pilates featuring conversations with everyday people who champion a consistent movement practice. Hosted by runner and mat movement enthusiast Shuva Rahim, You’ll learn from inspiring practitioners and instructors, get fitness-related recommendations, and hear race reviews.

Do you or someone you know have an interesting yoga, running, and/or Pilates story who would make a great guest? If so, send an email to matsandmiles@gmail.com.

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Transcript

Shuva Rahim: 0:00

Hello friends, in a previous episode I shared my yoga journey, so for this one I'm going to talk about running, which I do more of than any other type of movement. I started running in my mid-30s, really as a way to stay fit. Before that, my choice of movement was walking. Now, running didn't come out of the blue entirely. So just over a decade ago there was a new running store that opened in my area, and I remember a friend and I went in together. She wanted to chat briefly with the owner about a pair of shoes, and I was just tagging along.

Shuva Rahim: 0:37

A little while later, maybe several weeks or months later, I was at a luncheon in which this running shoe owner talked about how running had changed her husband she and her husband co-owned the store, and long before that he was overweight. I recall her saying that he would walk around the block or walk for a certain amount of time, usually at a time when there were not a lot of people around outside. He would do this pretty regularly and after he would lose a certain amount of weight, she would reward him with a new pair of running shoes. Now, this is more their story than mine, so I don't know all the in-between details such as how long this took, if there were challenges along the way, etc. But eventually this man ended up, many years later, in addition to co-owning a running shoe store with his wife, also ran the Boston Marathon. I found that very inspiring and I remember at that luncheon, looking at the shoes that were on display from the store and someone asking me are you a runner? And I said no, but I like the idea of running.

Shuva Rahim: 1:52

A few days, or maybe weeks later, I went into that running store and brought my first pair of running shoes. I decided to sign up then for a local 5K, and that was in 2013. I did my first half marathon in 2015, and I've gone back to that store every time. I've needed a new pair of shoes. Like yoga, I had a few stops and starts with my running. It's never been a continuous climb. So what I'd like to do with select episodes of the show is to revisit many, if not all, of the races I've done so far and share what I've learned from that. So I hope you'll come back and join me for some other running tidbits in the future. Thank you.