The 83rd Edition

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to approach my running this year. Not quitting or falling out of love with it… but loosening my grip a little.

Something to Think About

Obsession can build something incredible, but it can also quietly narrow your world if you’re not paying attention.

Something to Ask Yourself

If running disappeared for six months, who would you still be?

Personal Lesson

Ultra running has been a huge part of my life for the last few years. Thirteen finished ultras so far. A 100miler in America (which was what felt like a life dream). Goals, Effort, Pride. Elation… Man, it’s given me a lot. I loved it. Truly. Watching races, following athletes, getting lost in the world of ultras, helping people do the same – it lights me up.

But at some point recently, I realised something important: just because something is my biggest passion doesn’t mean it has to be everything.

Ultra running has shaped me, but it doesn’t get to own me. And I don’t want to wake up one day having squeezed all curiosity out of life because I only allowed myself to be “the runner”.

We want to have excitement for life, for the things we’re up to. For you right now, that might be the novelty of ultra running, and I sincerely hope the flame grows as big as mine. But sometimes, I need take a psychological step back from my running.

Not because I’m bored of running — but because I respect it enough to protect my love for it.

I’ll still race this year. I’ll still train hard. But I’m letting go of the idea that racing, year after year after year, is the only valid way to show up.

For most people — myself included — that level of obsession isn’t sustainable forever.

Running – Life’s Metaphor

Running is brilliant at teaching commitment and discipline. But it’s also a reminder that life isn’t always about doubling down harder, sometimes it’s about widening the lens so you don’t burn out on the thing you care about most.

Final Thoughts

Life has to be lived on your own terms.

That applies to your career, your relationships, and absolutely your running.

There’s no rulebook that says you must always want more races, longer distances, or bigger suffering.

You’re allowed to evolve, shift priorities, and you’re allowed to love and even prefer other things!

I prefer so much stuff in my life to running. But running is probably the most valuable hobby. Simple.

Running and travelling is hard. Training properly takes effort. But being obsessed, relentlessly, without space to breathe? That’s hard in a different way.

This year, I’m reminding myself why I started in the first place.

I do this shit because it’s fun. Because it makes me feel alive and connects me to myself and earth.

It connects me to nature. Mine and that which surrounds me.

The moment I stop doing this for the craic, that’s when something needs to change.

Run hard. Care deeply. But leave room to be your fully expressed self too.

Thanks for reading and subscribing!

Run the runnable, and keep showing up for yourself.

Tommy 🙂