Why Running Still Clears My Mind After All These Years: Reflections From a Former Track Athlete

Running has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. From my days competing at Kansas State to early-morning jogs squeezed in between meetings, running has been more than exercise — it has been a reset button, a source of clarity, and a longtime friend.

People ask sometimes whether I miss competition.
I do.
But what I miss most isn't the races — it’s the feeling running gives me.

Even today, running clears my mind in a way nothing else does.

Running Taught Me More Than Athletics Ever Could

Being a student-athlete isn’t just about performance. It’s about:

• Discipline

• Mental toughness

• Humility

• Drive

• Commitment

• Showing up, no matter how you feel

Running challenges you physically, but it shapes you mentally.

Those early years taught me that the hardest battles are often internal — and that overcoming them makes everything else in life more manageable.

Running Is My Mental Reset Button

Life gets busy. Leadership gets stressful. Family life gets full (in the best way). Running helps me decompress, reset, and recenter myself.

When I run, I’m not thinking about:

• Emails

• Deadlines

• Stress

• Pressure

• The next decision I need to make

I’m thinking about breathing.
The rhythm of my steps.
The quiet.
The fresh air.
The clarity that comes only from movement.

Running gives me space to think — and sometimes, to stop thinking.

Running Helps Me Be a Better Leader — and a Better Father

Running puts everything into perspective.

After a run, I feel:

• Clearer

• More patient

• More present

• Calmer

• Focused

• Steadier

It helps me show up for my kids with more energy.
It helps me show up for my wife with more gratitude.
It helps me show up for my teams with more clarity.
It helps me show up for myself with more confidence.

Running Reminds Me That Growth Takes Consistency

Leadership, parenting, athletics, faith — all of it requires one thing:

Consistency.

Running taught me long ago that success doesn’t come from intensity — it comes from discipline.

One mile at a time.
One step at a time.
One day at a time.

Running mirrors life more than any sport I know.

Running Helps Me Process the Hard Moments

Some of the biggest decisions in my life were processed during runs.

When life is loud, running is quiet.
When life is chaotic, running is steady.
When life is stressful, running is peaceful.

Running isn’t about chasing speed anymore — it’s about chasing clarity.

Conclusion: Running Is Still My Best Teacher

Running has been with me through every chapter of my life:

• As a student-athlete

• As a young professional

• As a father

• In leadership

• Through transitions

• Through victories

• Through challenges

It’s more than a workout.
It’s a mindset.
It’s therapy.
It’s reflection.
It’s gratitude.
It’s clarity.

And even after all these years, running is still one of the best teachers I’ve ever had.