First, you hate it. You hate the thought of it, the strain, the sweat, the exhaustion. You’d rather do anything else. Anything that doesn’t involve pounding your feet against the pavement, your breath getting heavy, or your body aching. Running is the last thing on your mind when the opportunity for physical activity comes around. You would rather choose Cricket, basketball, football, or even just lifting weights over the monotony of running. Unlike those sports, however, running doesn’t require any special equipment or a team. It’s just you, your shoes, and the open road. But then something changes.

You start with a half-hearted attempt. Maybe it’s a New Year’s resolution, weight gain, a bad day, or a fleeting moment of inspiration that leads you to lace up those shoes and jog out the door. At first, it’s uncomfortable. Your legs feel heavy, your lungs scream for air, and you’re constantly checking the time, hoping for the end. You wonder what people see in it. You wonder why anyone would willingly do this to themselves.

But then, slowly, something shifts. You begin to notice that running has a rhythm to it. The steady cadence of your feet hitting the ground and the controlled breathing. Your overthinking mind starts to quiet. You start to feel the flow. And when you finish your first run, it feels like an accomplishment.

Once you achieve the basic stamina, then it’s all about crossing the mental barrier. With time, you gradually conquer 1k, 2k, 5k, 10k, and even 21k, realizing that each new distance is just another step forward, making nothing seem impossible. Over time, you keep going. The discomfort becomes less sharp. Your body starts to adapt, the aches and pains subside, and you find a groove. You start noticing the small victories like the extra mile, the faster pace, and the days when you feel stronger than before. You realize you’ve become hooked, and it isn’t just about the physical benefits anymore. It’s about mental release. And best of all, you don’t need anyone else to do it. There are no teammates, no schedules, no dependence on others, just the freedom to run whenever and wherever you want.

Running becomes a drug. It’s not the kind of addiction that takes over destructively, but it’s the kind that makes you crave that endorphin high. You don’t just run to get fit; you run to clear your mind, to feel a sense of freedom. It’s an escape, a form of meditation. And before you know it, you find yourself reaching for your shoes every morning, chasing that feeling of peace amidst the chaos of life.

What once felt like a punishment now feels like therapy. The initial resistance has been replaced by anticipation, and the long runs are no longer a chore but a reward. You find joy in the challenge, in the journey, and in the transformation. Running becomes less of a sport and more of a practice, something you do for yourself, for your mind, your body, and for your soul.

And now, you can’t imagine your life without it. That moment when you crossed over from hating it to loving it? That’s where the magic happens. So, whether you’re running for fitness, for mental clarity, or for something deeper, know this: first, you hate it. Then, it becomes a drug.