What runners and writers have in common

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

New York Magazine columnist, co-author of Peak Performance and runner Brad Stulberg believes that running is somewhat similar to writing: both activities require habit and dedication, and at the finish line you feel a little better. The similarities don't end there!

Running is often the favorite sport of writers. It allows you to keep the whole body in good shape, has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system and is an ideal form of active meditation that helps clear your head of unnecessary thoughts, organize work information and be alone with yourself.

Many runners practice free writing (freewriting) in the morning, although this has nothing to do with what they do in their professional life. It allows you to tune in the right way, take another look at the ideas, but as if from the outside, separate the important from the garbage and, possibly, find yourself real.

It is not surprising that these activities go hand in hand, helping a person to discover the best in himself.

Subsequence

Running, especially long distance running, like writing a book, requires willpower. Both activities should become your daily ritual. Brad admits that many times he had to force himself to sit down to a book or go for a run when he was not in the mood for it at all. And exactly the same number of times he was very pleased with the result. Not every workout or writing session is going to be great, and that's only natural. But you will never know with what attitude you will come to the end of the work, if you do not at least try to start. As practice has shown, the beginning is the most difficult part of the process.

Dream

Any runner and writer after a grueling workout or work knows the magical effect of sleep. It helps both our body and brain get off the ground. After all, physical (hormone production and muscle recovery) and mental (consolidation of information and emotions) recovery occurs during sleep. Unfortunately, runners and writers alike often neglect sleep time and use it for training or work. Side effects are not long in coming.

Creation

A blank page is a challenge for a writer, like a new trail is an invitation to a run for a runner. They both start with a clean slate and always approach the finish line with a result created exclusively by them. The finished article, like the distance covered, always brings great satisfaction.

Privacy

Sure, there are group runs or special events for writers where they all get together and create, but that doesn't happen often. Still, writing a new book, like running, requires solitude. At the very least, you’re unlikely to find a runner or writer who has a hard time taking loneliness.

Coffee

Coffee is the best legal doping! And that's it.:)

Feeling empty

Running and creativity require total commitment, and it can feel empty at the finish line. After running a distance or writing a book, you will feel as if you have given yourself completely to your occupation and there is nothing else left. And this feeling is wonderful.

Ability to stop in time

Many famous writers advise to finish writing before you run out of steam. Better to get some rest, switch your attention and recharge your batteries. With jogging, things are about the same: experienced trainers advise ending the session with the feeling that you can complete a few more sets. An excellent anti-burnout strategy.

Complete absorption

Every writer knows what it's like to be physically present at dinner with friends, but mentally go through the fifth sentence in the second paragraph on page 38 of the manuscript for the hundredth time. Likewise, runners can do their math in their heads while still being physically in an office meeting, driving, queuing up, or showering - that is, almost everywhere. How many kilometers did I run this week? Has my coach sent you a new training program? What is the pace at which you need to run a half marathon if I want to meet 1 hour and 40 minutes? There can be a million tasks.

Awareness of their strengths and capabilities

Running, like writing texts, helps to comprehend your inner resources and understand how much you can do, be it a seven-day ultramarathon in the desert or the ability to find the right capacious words, fit the meaning of an entire article into one paragraph.