The 63rd Edition
Because we dedicate so much of our time to running, it’s easy to fall for the trap that it’s who we are.
The more we do something, the more we’re tempted to believe that we are that thing. But that belief can quietly box us in.
Something to Think About
If you let one part of your life define all of you, you’ll start to forget who you were before it, and who you might become after.
Something to Ask Yourself
What parts of yourself have been left behind because you’ve become known for just one thing?
Article of the Week
This reflective essay traces how Magness, once defined to everyone as “the runner”, came to realise that self-worth anchored solely in athletic identity eventually became burdensome. Over time, he intentionally rewrote his internal narrative to reflect a broader, more complex sense of self beyond the sport.
Track of the Week
Simply one of the greatest guitar songs ever written… 12 mins of beauty for your ears.
This week’s track of the week is…
By the way, if you didn’t know, I put all these tracks in a Spotify playlist…
Personal Lesson
If you follow me online, you’d be forgiven for thinking my entire life is running. From the reels to the podcast to the coaching – everything I do online is steeped in this world. And it’s true: I run most days, and I care deeply about the lessons running offers. But the version of me you see online is, in many ways, a highlight reel of one part of who I am.
Away from the screen, I geek out over music production. I get pulled into philosophy books. I obsess over the latest 4x4s, and business models that make me say “that’s genius!” I’ve always been fascinated by business, how ideas come to life and how people behave within systems. These parts of me don’t trend on TikTok, but they’re real. And they’re essential for staying grounded. Because without them, I’d fall into the trap of believing I am the story I tell online: that I’m just a runner, just a coach, just the guy who makes running content.
That story might be useful, even inspiring to some. But it’s not the whole truth. And if I mistake it for the truth, I start chasing validation instead of growth. I start performing instead of being. Knowing who I am outside of running is what keeps me honest. It keeps me curious. It gives me permission to evolve.
Running – Life’s Metaphor
Just like we’re more than our fastest splits, we’re more than our roles, titles, or labels. Running reminds us that progress comes from movement, and that includes moving beyond the boxes we’ve put ourselves in.
Final Thoughts
It’s tempting to build your identity around something you’re good at, something others admire you for. And running gives you easy markers: distance, discipline, devotion. But when your identity is tied too tightly to one pursuit, it becomes fragile. An injury, a missed race, or a loss of motivation. Then, all of a sudden, you don’t know who you are anymore.
You are not your race time. You are not your Strava log. You’re not even your passion. You’re a whole person, with many parts that feed and challenge and shape you. Let them in – all of them.
In fact, the more grounded you are in the fullness of who you are, the more freely you can run. When your self-worth isn’t riding on your results, you’re no longer weighed down by expectation. You’re just moving. You can be more present, more joyful and dare I say… more alive.
So run hard. Share your journey. But stay rooted in the person behind the runner. That’s the version of you that will still be standing long after the finish line.
Thanks again for reading and subscribing.
Run the runnable, and keep showing up for yourself!
Tommy 🙂