Whenever I talk to new triathletes, I often hear the same worries and complaints: “I can’t swim” or “Long run? Uh, do I have to?”

Just prior to getting into triathlon, I spent a year cycling (or, more learning how to cycle), and an entire summer on a surfboard. As for the running, well, I wasn’t one that would just go for a run. Up to this point my running background consisted of being a midfielder for my high school soccer team. The thought of pounding the pavement for 9 miles was definitely not on my top 10 favorite things to do list.

I dreaded the long run like no other. During my first season of triathlon, I only did TWO long runs the ENTIRE season. The only running I did was at the track or during a brick workout. As I learned during the last 2 miles of my final race of that first season, something was obviously missing. I had zero gas left in the tank, and it wasn’t from going too hard on the swim, bike, or first 4 miles of the run. Here I was, competing in an endurance event, without endurance.

After doing some reflection on my first season, I knew that if I wanted to get better, I had to start doing the dreaded, long run.
The long runs were easy at the beginning of my second season for two reasons:
1) They weren’t long.
2) I did them with friends. I don’t know about you, but long workouts always seem easier in good company.

As time went on, sometimes friends couldn’t always make the long runs, so I had to do them myself.

Being an outdoorsy guy, I decided to do the vast majority of my long runs on trails. If you’ve never run on San Diego trails before, they are beautiful. There are some great flatter trails along the lagoons by the coast and hillier trails inland allowing for a great variety. Sometimes you see wildlife, sometimes you see other runners (and dogs), sometimes you don’t see anything at all, except what mother nature has to offer.

I stuck with it and my aerobic base began to build. Able to run faster and farther my perspective started to change. As I began to see the improvements from my hard work, I started looking forward to the long runs.

The run became therapeutic. For me, there is something about being out there with nature, the fresh air, the smell of the wildflowers, no sound of cars, the little rustling you hear in the bushes when you come near some animal’s habitat, it all became a release for me. I could run and think about everything and nothing at once. A random thought would come into my mind, and I could go off on tangents for a few moments, only to return to hearing the light patter of my footsteps on the ground.

What I like the most about running is I can run anytime, anywhere, all I needed was a pair of running shoes. If I have a long day, or have a lot on my mind, I could go out for a run only to return with fresh thoughts and a clear head.

If you would have told me a few years ago what running would turn into for me, I wouldn’t have believed you for a second. The next time you dread doing a specific workout because you don’t like it, change your perspective beforehand. You might be glad you did, in more ways than one

Written by Ryan Denner