After recovering from a mental health crisis about 10 years ago, running became a staple in how I learned to show up for myself.
When I moved across the country, a new coworker offered to take me on a local run. She pulled up Strava and showed me the loop we'd be doing. After that, I started running that loop—and using that app—religiously.
For years I treated the activity 'descriptions' like journal entries, so I kept my account private. It's more of a social connectivity platform now, I guess. Back then it was far more about tracking stats. Eventually, I unlocked my profile so I could connect with other people, but not before I went through and clipped out all of those entries.
At the time, I called my little diary series to myself "Run On Thoughts." It felt clever since I was known to ramble about big ideas and meaning—especially in my instagram captions. Turns out I've been a writer this whole time...
I stuck with that post-run, Strava-journaling habit for years; through career transitions, injuries, breakups, and all the miles of coping with getting sober. I trained, gained, and sustained a lot of life that way. I remember cities I've traveled to for work by the running routes I snuck in there. When I think of the last decade of my life, I chunk the chapters and memories by countless trail runs, mountain biking trips, backcountry snowboarding days, and frontcountry wanderings by the waterfront.
Through it all, I wrote those little journal entries in the activity descriptions on Strava before hitting "save." Later, I'd end my Strava segment early and spend the last few minutes typing into my notes app instead. I dreamed one day, maybe, I'd be brave enough to start writing things like that publicly. Of course, I knew people would actually be able to read it then.
Well, last year, another evolution of those Run On Thoughts became BUDS. Given the right container, they've grown.
And people keep reading, thanks to you.
I recently wrote about Austin Kleon and his book Steal Like An Artist. Another of his is called Show Your Work. I like to think I am now.
onward.
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