The Non-Starter That Started Something
This week’s training summary:
Miles Run: 0
Plans Made: Also 0
Excuses Generated: Infinite
One nice walk with my husband: ✅
So yeah… not exactly the triumphant return to running I had envisioned. Let’s call it a soft launch. Or maybe a launch adjacent situation.
Here’s the deal: I signed up for a 5K that’s happening this Sunday. You’d think that kind of looming event would light a fire under me. Instead, I chose denial — a time-honored strategy in both life and fitness.
But then I saw something this week that shifted my perspective: Faith Kipyegon’s attempt to break the 4-minute mile.
She didn’t quite hit it.
But here’s what stuck with me:
She showed it was possible.
She chased the hard thing. And in doing so, she didn’t fail — she stretched what we think is achievable.
Meanwhile, I spent the week avoiding a 5K I already paid for.
Get Agnes’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
But you know what? Her run reminded me that it’s not always about breaking the record. Sometimes, it’s just about showing up to the track. Lining up. Trying anyway.
So, I didn’t run this week, but here’s what did happen:
On Sunday, I went for a walk with my husband. It wasn’t long. It wasn’t fast. But it felt… good. Like that kind of deep exhale good. The fresh air, the movement, the banter — it reminded me of why I used to love running outside. That walk did more for my comeback than a perfect training week ever could.
So now I have two choices:
- Skip the 5K and stay in the comfort zone.
- Show up. Run, walk, gasp — whatever. Use it as a springboard.
Or maybe there’s a third option:
3. Don’t overthink it. Just show up. Then keep showing up, even after Sunday.
Maybe I won’t break any records.
But maybe I can show myself what’s still possible.
Whatever happens, I’m calling this a win. Because this time, I’m not quitting quietly. I’m writing about it. Laughing about it. Planning around it.
And that’s a lot more than zero.
