Running as a Unifier in an Increasingly Divided World

I woke up today to more and more political news flooding my vision—every direction I looked, some inflammatory news story was there. And the only thought that kept running through my mind was how divided we are becoming. More agendas, more ideologies of the few being pushed to the masses, regardless of the feelings or opinions of the whole. It led to a feeling of sadness, almost a depressive overwhelm.

I’m not overly political and I don’t run around spouting my beliefs. My opinions are just that—my opinions. But as I fell deeper into the rabbit hole of news seemingly designed to upset us all, I kept coming back to one calming thought: running. The one thing that has always unified and motivated me no matter what other distractions were being thrown my way. Because when we run, we are all the same. There is no distinction. You run, or you do not run. It’s hard to have a blurry, middle ground there.

It doesn’t matter if you’re the fastest person out there or the last one to cross the finish line. No one cares if you are a boy, a girl, or somewhere in between. No one judges the clothes you wear or the shoes strapped to your feet. The only thing people care about is the run. The experience. The journey they are about to embark on, the adventure they will have, and the memories they will have created. And if it’s a race setting, the shared energy of the whole for all that have shown up to test themselves.

Some are chasing a personal best. Others are seeking connection with a welcoming community that celebrates a healthy physical outlet. Some are simply fighting to silence the demons of mental health struggles, even if it’s only for a little while. And in those moments, all that matters is that we are there, together, stepping up to the start line, bound by a mutual understanding that transcends everything else.

For me, I like keeping it simple. Running is my outlet, my way to maintain my own mental health. It’s become more of a priority as I get older and my speed starts to diminish, and that’s ok. My competitive side has chilled out and I’m no longer fixated on podium finishes or chasing the next fastest time. After over a decade of racing, my focus has shifted to the experience itself.. and just getting to the finish line. I’m no longer comparing myself to anyone but me.. the way it should have always been.

I do have my own goals, and they continue to drive me. But it’s shifted more to the impact I want to have in the running community—showing that you don’t have to be first, second, or even in the top ten to feel the competitive fire. Where you should be is within yourself, pushing to the best of your ability, challenging yourself to do hard things, and then celebrating when you reach your goal. And then? Set another one!

There is no “final destination.” We are in a lifelong pursuit of setting and reaching goals, they will evolve as we do. And that’s okay. Things shouldn’t stay the same forever, we would become stagnant. But growth isn’t always measured in faster times. I see that more clearly now after years of chasing podiums, pushing myself because I thought I had to prove something to others. I thought I needed their praise because deep down, I didn’t feel confident in myself. It took me a long time to learn that happiness has to come from within. But later is better than never.

And if something bothers me enough that it becomes a nagging thought I can’t shake, I find a realistic way to change it. For me and running, it was stepping back from the intensity of my old training. It meant fewer miles, less time on the run, fewer races. I needed to rediscover what I loved about running in the first place. And I did.

It took time. And doubt crept in along the way.. I wasn’t the runner I used to be and that can be hard to accept. But it led to finding joy again in the simple act of running and spending time in the quiet of nature. And if all I have time for is a short lunchtime run to clear my mind, that’s enough for me.

I still have goals, and they drive me to push harder and try to improve, but the place that I’m driving it from is different. I’m planning to incorporate more cycling, and strength and speed work that will help me to maintain better overall health. I won’t ignore performance goals entirely, especially as I recover from surgery. But they won’t define me. They’ll just be targets.. something to keep me moving forward. And if they change over time? So be it.

I have so many other things that feed my soul. Running will always be a part of who I am, but it will never be all that I am. And that balance.. that freedom.. is exactly what I need to make me happy in the long run.