Never Running In Pain

Just Another Runner’s Perspective May 2025 Written by Gale Fischer

Never Running In Pain

“If you’re looking for pain and misery while running… you’ll find it. And if you’re looking for joy and happiness while running… you’ll find it.”

—- Michael D’Aulerio

October 18, 1998: Fatigue and extreme lower body muscle soreness began to set in. Another ten miles lay between me and the finish line, for this, my first marathon. I had experienced similar feelings of physical agony during all of my long training runs. My body was sending me ongoing signals to stop, but my mind continued to intervene. 

The mental power that we possess as human beings is amazing and often times goes untapped. There are individual examples of mental resolve in all facets of life. These occurrences are plentiful in the world of endurance sports. Each of us has experienced this phenomenon personally as part of our personal running journey and also witnessed examples of this among members of the running community.

With more than two hours left on my feet, I dug deep into my soul to cover the remaining ten miles. It was difficult to ignore the physical distress, but my mind began to bargain with my body to simply keep moving forward one step at a time. There were walking intervals followed by some running, and then more walking. This slow agonizing pattern continued. As time dragged on, moments rose to the surface when it seemed that every part of my body hurt, but my mind remained strong, and as a result, I was rewarded with occasional periods of euphoria. When I crossed the finish line more than four and a half hours after starting, my mind was flooded with endorphins. My body may have been beaten to a pulp, but I never ran in pain. 

The physical discomfort associated with running longer distances requires a give and take. One must learn to identify when to keep moving and when to stop, so that injury or long-term damage is avoided. The thrill is sometimes found while teetering on the edge. To survive and run another day, this line in the sand must be drawn, but if one can identify where their perceived threshold is personally, and then push through to another level, then amazing things will happen. The impossible occurs when taking on the mindset to slog through the misery to finish what has been started. It’s not always easy to discern what is a normal running soreness and what is an injury that requires rest, but anyone who has run longer distances surely knows that running is never easy or lacking in torment. The mind will often erase the pain.

So, how does one take on this challenge of training for and running longer distances? The work must be put in. There are training plans to follow, nutrition to be taken in, and rest and recovery to be had. These nuances are all part of the science of running. As important as the methodologies of running are, to experience success and satisfaction as a runner, reaching beyond the scientific realm is key. 

The joy that many of us partake in when running, the high that is chased, and the passion that many have for the sport are truly special. Not everyone is fortunate enough to experience running in this way. Running is not for everyone. One may be blessed with talent, possess the traits of hard work and dedication, and understand the health benefits of a running routine, but to truly tune out the physical discomfort of running that is unavoidable, there must be a state of mind that makes the joy a possibility.

For those lucky enough to be blessed with a strong passion for running, you know who you are. The sense of accomplishment and confidence gained from running longer distances is part of the formula, but there is more. Running provides mental clarity, calms the human soul when emotions are on overload, provides a rush for the mind when affections are not so high, helps one to sort through the problems of daily life if needed, or provides the opportunity to forget these problems for a snippet of time if the soul craves a break. It is rare to run without physical discomfort, but the potential for the mind to block out the physical anguish and dish out a dose of internal bliss is where the payoff often lies. 

If running is an important part of your life and something you have developed a deep passion for, never take it for granted. Each mile is a blessing. There are always moments when running can hurt, but if you’re lucky, your heart and soul will never run in pain.

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