The Running Contradiction

Just Another Runner’s Perspective December 2024 Written By Gale Fischer

The Running Contradiction

"Running is a journey with both exhilarating highs and humbling lows, where you learn to embrace both the euphoric moments and the days when pushing through pain becomes the true victory."

—-an unknown ultra runner

11/19/2024: Nearly two miles into my afternoon run, I was still gasping for air. From the onset, it had been more of a struggle than I was accustomed to. I was hoping that after a mile or so, I would settle in, but here I was, almost halfway through my five miles, and I was still working to take in each breath. This had been my first run in four days. I had come down with a cold Friday and congestion was invading my body from the neck up. I had struggled but made it through work and then spent Saturday in bed. Things began to progress Sunday and into Monday but the effects had drained me of my energy. I decided to take an extra day off, called in sick to begin the workweek, and followed up my first day back to work Tuesday, with an afternoon run. My legs were feeling heavy, my energy meter low, and every exhale was a struggle. I finished my run, breathing in a sense of relief upon completion with the five miles wiping me out. As much as my daily fix knocked me down physically, it also seemed to boost my stamina. The energy drain was taxing but at the same time, the emotional jolt seemed to intoxicate my senses. The physical and mental side effects associated with running are a contradiction that is at times difficult to comprehend. 

 

Running is one of the great metaphors for what we as humans deal with daily. It can provide lessons to help understand life circumstances from the past and the present. Running often prepares one for the rigors of the daily grind while also bestowing upon its participants assurance that the tide will turn. It can equip us with the tools to navigate what the future holds, whether that be keeping afloat through stretches filled with tumultuous waters or staying grounded when presented with life’s highs. The confidence gained through our sport can provide the experience of enjoying the contradictions associated with the highs and lows of daily life.

As in running, life is full of contradictions. The stresses that are common in a career are experienced in tandem with the rewards of a job that one is passionate about. The joys of parenting are non-existent without the frustrations that are also a part of the process. The journey of finding peace in life’s blessings while also experiencing the trauma of a period of financial distress or a life-changing health scare also reminds us that discrepancy is a part of life. The stimulus from one extreme to another that comes with running draws a parallel to what is encountered in life over the long haul. Running can help us hone valuable skills, including practicing patience,  working with persistence, acting with humility, and learning to appreciate the small and simple blessings. 

 

The examples of the extremes that I have experienced through running are never-ending. Many who have been involved in the sport can relate and share similar moments in time. Through the years running has humbled me while also placing me in a mental utopia. One of my first memories of this contradiction came a few months into my running journey when I completed my first double-digit run. Eight weeks prior to this, running ten miles seemed unimaginable but on a frigid Saturday morning back in December of 1997, I ignored cold winds blasting my face and torso, depleted energy, and hot blisters on my toes to complete my first ten-mile run. As I arrived back home trudging through my last strides, I was overloaded with physical exhaustion and muscle soreness. As hobbled as my body felt, the mental rush from knocking ten miles off of my bucket list sunk in. The confidence was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

This contrast in stimulus was even more heightened after completing my first marathon ten months after that first double-digit run. I had prepared over the course of twelve months. My knowledge of the nuances of marathon training was minimal. I trained alone without guidance from other runners. My game plan centered on a few runs each week consisting of four to five miles and a weekend-long run. With a methodical approach, I bumped up the distance of my long run each week, scaling back down once or twice a month, eventually working up to a twenty-two-mile long run leading into my taper. I still was unsure of my ability to tackle twenty-six miles as I waited anxiously at the starting line. Over the next four and a half hours I beat my body to a pulp. By the time I crossed the finish line, I felt as bad physically as I had ever felt but emotionally I was sky-high. My intentions were to check the marathon off my bucket list and be done, but I now was hooked. 

There are specific memories over the last twenty-five years tied to the running contradiction that are frozen in time. Experiencing highs and lows simultaneously is a common phenomenon when racing, while running with others, and during time spent running alone. It can occur while fitting in a mile in the middle of a tight daily schedule, when hammering the pace in a 5K race, in the middle of slogging through a twenty-mile training run, and when participating in a race at the marathon distance, or longer.

There are likely many explanations for the contradiction in feelings that come from running. Physical and mental distress are often accompanied by emotional euphoria. Perhaps the simplicity of our sport can best explain why this contradiction exists. Running can be physically uncomfortable and even painful. At times it can leave its participants in a mental state of frustration and confusion. With all of the distress that running can unleash, the simple act of being able to move forward one step at a time for an extended period is something to be grateful for. This state of appreciation is perhaps part of what makes up the runners’s high. With the holiday season upon us, there is no better time to be thankful for the positive feelings that we are blessed with from running, even though they may come with not-so-pleasant feelings. Tolerate the discomfort, find joy in the high, and embrace the contradiction.

Until next time, this has been just another runner’s perspective.

Lexi Kryszweski Story

Just Another Runner’s Story November 2024 Written By Gale Fischer

Empowered by Running

“There are no standards and no possible victories except the joy you are living while dancing your run”

—-Fred Rohe

In the world of coaching, success is easily measured through wins and losses. Defeating the competition is always an important component when it comes to athletics. As a passionate runner coaching cross-country for more than a decade, an underlying goal for me has always been to field a competitive team, but there is more to strive for than this. It is always an aspiration to provide a positive influence on my athletes and make a difference, helping them navigate through their world moving from teenager to young adult and beyond. The sport of running itself and the guidance of a coach can pay dividends in the lives of our youth. As much as I desire to mentor my athletes, I am continually reminded that the script can be flipped. Lessons can be learned from these young athletes with the inspiration that they are capable of providing. This month’s featured runner, Lexi Kryszewski, has provided positive influence over the last two seasons for her Kellogg Community College (KCC) cross-country teammates and coaches. She is a reminder that with all the negativity we observe and hear about in our world today, hope still remains for our future.

As a child, running wasn’t necessarily an activity Lexi could have predicted would play an important part in her future, but being active was ingrained into her routine early on. She was born and lived out much of her childhood in New Berlin, Wisconsin. She was active as a child in organized sports and also developed a love for playing outside while growing up in the Midwest. Lexi reflects on the role athletics played in her childhood. “Sports have always been a big part of my life. In my elementary school years, my mom had me and my two older brothers signed up for every rec league activity possible. I played soccer, softball, and basketball, took swim lessons, and participated in dance and cheer.”  Lexi enjoyed being active and the values that she learned from this would carry over through her teen years into adulthood. As much as she liked all the sports she played in, she would develop a passion for one in particular. This activity would provide a bridge for Lexi when her family moved from Wisconsin to Michigan. “Dance was always a big focus for me. My passion consumed my life. I was on the Varsity pom team for Harper Creek High School, joined studio dance, and found my first job as a teacher assistant for the tiny tot classes. I continued to share my passion for dance after graduation by becoming a dance instructor during my first two years of college. It has always been about celebrating movement and has built confidence.”

Lexi had developed a love for dance as a child but as she went through high school and began contemplating her future she also developed another passion as she made the transition to college. Lexi gives details about this. “I graduated from Harper Creek High School in 2022, earning a Gold Key Scholarship through (KCC). I wanted to be a secondary math teacher.” Lexi’s involvement in other extracurricular activities beyond sports would lay the foundation for her earning the Gold Key Scholarship and also give her the experiences that helped her to hash out a plan for what she wanted in a career. Some of these extracurricular activities included serving as president of the Student Council and National Honor Society and being a student representative for the Calhoun Area Career Center Education Academy. 

Lexi started a part-time job at Harper Creek Middle School as a paraprofessional and lead SEL teacher during her first year of college to give her some experience working in a school setting. This experience would be the spark that ignited her passion for the impact she wants to make in our world as an adult. “After working with students and teachers from all different backgrounds I realized that the system is broken for kids, teachers, and administrators. I decided to switch my pathway and am seeking to earn a degree in Non-Profit Public Administration and Family Consumer Science and Youth Development. I eventually want to earn a Ph.D in Educational Leadership. I want to create sustainable programs that lead to the enrichment of education, elementary through college.”

High school graduation brought with it the end of competitive dance for Lexi. She would continue to pursue a lifestyle that included physical activity despite not being a high school student. This philosophy of taking care of herself physically was something that had been rooted in her thought process from her years as a young child participating in a variety of sports. After graduating from high school she would spend time at the gym each week with friends. Her gym rat mentality would be put to the test the summer between her freshman and sophomore years at KCC. Lexi talks about the challenge of continuing with her gym routine. “During the summer leading into my sophomore year of college at KCC, I was going through a transition and felt some stress. My workout partners were gone for the summer. Going to the gym alone was out of my comfort zone but at the same time, I leaned on going to the gym to get me through the summer. I did some running on the treadmill, lifted weights, and participated in fitness classes. I had worked out with others but now I was doing it independently. This was a new experience for me and at first, this was uncomfortable but I gained confidence and felt empowered.” 

Prior to joining the KCC cross-country team, Lexi had done some running on her own. She would run one or two miles at a time occasionally. It wasn’t necessarily something that she had a passion for and she didn’t identify herself as a runner, but it served as part of her workout routine and fit perfectly with the importance that she placed on being active as part of her lifestyle. The story of Lexi becoming a collegiate cross-country runner would be put into motion as part of the personal enrichment requirements for the Gold Key Scholarship she had earned. Lexi reflects on what led her to cross-country. “As part of the itinerary for being a Gold Key Scholar, I am required to meet with KCC’s director of student life, Kristen McDermot every semester to identify a personal enrichment activity. When Kristin and I met at the end of my freshman year she challenged me to do something different for my personal enrichment activity. I decided that I would run a 5K.” Lexi didn’t put a whole lot of thought into it when making this goal and quickly realized that she was out of her comfort zone. She had normally run two miles, but increasing this distance another mile seemed daunting. She didn’t panic and put a plan together to reach her goal. “I ran my first 5K on the treadmill later that summer. I had done some running in the past but 3.1 miles was a huge step for me. My focus was to build up step by step and increase my distance gradually as I went. After completing a 5K I was super proud of myself.”

Lexi’s plan was to run the 5K and go back to her normal routine, but the training she had put into running over three miles without a break stirred an interest inside of her. This interest in continuing with a more regimented running routine was also partially spurred on by encouragement that she had received from some of her friends a year prior. Lexi explains this scenario. “During the first few days of my freshman year at KCC some of my friends tried to talk me into joining the KCC cross-country team. They were in need of a few more runners to field a team. I didn’t pursue the possibility of running cross country at that time but a year later after running that first 5K on the treadmill, I decided to reach out to Coach Shaw to see if he needed me to run for the team.” 

Lexi recalls her conversation with Coach Shaw as if it happened yesterday. “My first meeting with Coach Shaw was memorable. At the time I was curious about joining the team but still wasn’t completely sure at first. Coach Shaw wanted to field a team with at least five runners and was on board with me signing on. He laid out the benefits for me to run for his team. He said that I could possibly go on to continue running in my future; in the worst case Coach Shaw said I could get in even better shape, maybe make some friendships that would last a lifetime, and have a great time with the team, which all seemed like great options. After meeting with Coach Shaw, Lexi had to make the choice to try something brand new to her, running cross-country, something she had never dreamt that she would do.

Lexi’s running peers for her first year of cross-country quickly turned into a special group of teammates for her. Lexi talks about what she appreciates most about her team with the friendships that she has made. “The team I was on the first year was really special. I was a new runner, but that didn’t matter. I was welcomed with open arms into a sport I had never participated in before. The humility I had to take on was heavy and not for a second did I feel ashamed; I felt fortified. Everyone accepted me. We supported each other and continue to do so through running but also in life.” Most would think that an ideal situation for a cross-country team would be to have a collection of runners who could compete at a high level. This wasn’t necessarily the scenario for Lexi and her team, but the dynamics of this group were truly amazing. “There was everyone from new runners to experienced runners. Practice each day was always something that I looked forward to. We became a family. We became a community. We would continue to play other sports after practice for hours. This supported my philosophy of how movement and play are important for everyone not just kids. Many workouts were targeted to individual pace but there were also those days when we could run together. I enjoyed these runs. It was a chance to be goofy. It was more than a run.”

Being a part of a team and the social connections it blessed Lexi with were what brought her the most joy but the implementation of a consistent running routine was also something that she relished. “There was constant individual growth. I was always sore and tired but at the same time, I felt strong and more empowered. The more I moved the stronger I felt mentally, physically, and emotionally. In this my second year of cross country my body is not nearly as sore as it was last year. I have adjusted to the miles. Consistency played a major role in my growth. Running during the off-season was not always an easy task, but did always make me feel better.” 

As a second-year student, Lexi was a first-year runner and still considered a freshman athlete, but her future as a KCC student and runner was not a certainty going into the off-season last winter. This didn’t matter to her as a runner; She now identified herself as a runner and continued to run. Her teammates became her gym partners helping her stay committed to cross-training. As the summer of 2024 approached Lexi had to make a decision. She was ready to continue her college education at a four-year school but still wanted to run a second year for KCC. She and Coach Shaw hashed out a plan. She enrolled at Western Michigan University this fall signing on for fifteen credits, while also taking another six credits at KCC. Her schedule as a college student is heavy while also serving other roles including Kampus Activities Boards (KAB) officer and Phi Theta Kappa officer.  Being a member of KCC’s cross-country team added to the load, but as Lexi explains, running helps her efforts as a student. “Running has helped with the demands associated with being a student. Cross-country gives me a community, gives me movement to breathe, and gives me a chance to be outside. The balance it has given me has been a blessing for me as a student and life in general.”

Although Lexi is new to cross country that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have any goals as a runner. Her goals have evolved, yet remained rooted in her same philosophy as she explained, “I am pushing for a sub thirty minute 5k to end my season. Regardless of time, my overarching goal for this season had been to ultimately keep showing up for the team and myself. Running has become a standardized thing in my life. I will continue to run after my time as a cross-country runner is finished. I want to complete a half-marathon and build from there someday.” 

Through running and her experiences as a college student, Lexi has a great outlook on how to get through the demands of life with words of advice for others. “Don’t ever be afraid to do new things. Being willing to do something and not be perfect can be a good thing. In racing and life, your place in the race doesn’t equate to losing. Everyone’s journey is different. Don’t let your head get in the way of finishing a race or any challenge you are faced with in life. Give yourself grace because the path you are walking is your own. Sometimes you need to do things for yourself.” 

There are many among us including runners and non-runners who have a perception of who a runner is or is supposed to be. Lexi is proof that anyone can start their journey as a runner by finding the joy and the empowering community within the sport of running. In many ways she is mature beyond her years and running has enhanced this maturity. Just as her endeavors to help create and maintain a sustainable education process in the future make her an ambassador for future generations of children, her involvement in running and the way that she has embraced it make her an ambassador for our sport. 

Everyone has a story. Stay tuned next month for another runner’s story.