There’s a popular saying among millennials that you should always do things “for the bit.” My “bit” one day last fall was pure pettiness. A friend wouldn’t stop talking about his late-20s fitness journey, which of course included running a race. Just to annoy him, I signed up for the lottery to enter the 2026 NYC United Half Marathon. I believe my exact words were, “What, like it’s hard?” Almost a year and two half-marathons later—in two different countries, no less—I can take that joke back and say: it’s actually really hard. Worth it, but hard.
That day in early November, I pulled up the website, created a New York Road Runners account, entered my credit card info to pre-authorize the race fee in case my lottery draw went through, added an emergency contact, and closed the page, happy that I’d at least temporarily gotten under my friend’s skin. That was until one morning, three weeks later, when I saw a $160 charge on my credit card, quickly followed by a “Congratulations!” email from the organization. I immediately texted my friend with the news. He shared his in return: he hadn’t gotten in. In fact, I texted all my serious runner friends, most of whom have run the actual New York City Marathon and also entered the draw. Comically, karmically, tragically, I was the only one who got in.
I’m not completely unathletic. I danced my whole childhood and rowed crew in high school. In college, I’d occasionally get up super early to run a slow sunrise mile on the beach and enjoy a $1 Pret black coffee on my stoop. During COVID, stuck in Connecticut after flying home for a dentist appointment straight from a panicking Paris, I ran up and down a dirt road behind my parents’ house. The spring in my step eventually faded, but now I was forced to bring it back, wheezing along the stony streets of the Seaport.
Honestly, the process was a mix of loving and hating it. I couldn’t stand waking up in the pitch dark to run miles in sub-20 degree weather. I was thrilled to mention how much I’d already accomplished that day while gliding through the office to my desk. I was less excited when it got so cold I had to move long runs to the treadmill. At one point, five miles into a seven-miler on the machine, I gave myself accidental motion sickness watching the swinging ponytail of the runner in front of me while listening to “4 Raws” by EsDeeKid bounce back and forth between my AirPods. (After that embarrassing moment, I quickly switched to audiobooks.) But most importantly, I loved the fast-paced feeling of control that the routine—one I had to either complete or quit—gave me while working a job as social and unpredictable as fashion. My own goals became clearer; in fact, I got the HR call about getting this very job at Vogue while on a run.
This invaluable sense of routine—where I could clear my head, unplug, and enjoy a hobby all on my own—was why I said yes to Lululemon’s invitation to the 2026 Seawheeze Half Marathon in Vancouver. Not just yes, but yes with enthusiasm, ready to start a 12-week tug of war all over again.
Was I suddenly a road runner who flew internationally to compete in races? With my per-mile pace, I’m not sure you can call what I do competing, but during these warmer summer months, it felt great running 10 miles on a sunny Sunday morning before meeting up with friends for frozen margaritas to watch the World Cup matches—let alone the fact that my baseline fitness now lets me run 10 miles with excitement instead of fear.
Similarly, the lack of a routine in the two weeks after the race has left me with both relief and unease. After nearly a year of waking up at 5:30 a.m., sleeping in until 7 feels so, so good. Yet, I’ve also been in limbo, like something essential to my days is missing. Instead of prolonging my break from my hobby, I replaced my sneakers, which hit 400 miles in Vancouver (it’s shoeven to be speaking in these semi-official running terms—and I can’t wait to get back out there.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the surprisingly positive impact of running written in a natural conversational tone
FAQs Why Life Got Better When I Started Running
1 What do you mean life improved Isnt running just painful and tiring
It sounds counterintuitive but the pain of a run is temporary while the aftereffects are amazing Its not just about fitness Its the mental clarity the feeling of accomplishment and the stress relief that spills over into every other part of your day You trade 30 minutes of discomfort for 23 hours of feeling more capable and calm
2 Im not fit at all Can I really do this or is it only for athletes
Absolutely you can do this The secret is to start embarrassingly slow The run might just be a brisk walk for the first week then a minute of jogging followed by two minutes of walking There are free apps like Couch to 5K designed specifically for people who have never run before Youre not competing with anyone but yourself
3 How does running actually reduce stress Isnt it just adding more to my plate
Think of stress as a physical energy When you run you burn off that nervous energy Your body releases endorphins and reduces cortisol Its also me timea break from screens emails and chores You come back home with a quieter mind not a more exhausted one
4 Im a busy person How do I fit running into my schedule without it taking over
You dont need to run for an hour a day The lifeimproving magic starts at just 2030 minutes three times a week Treat it like a nonnegotiable appointment like a meeting with your boss Many people find that running first thing in the morning gives them more energy for the rest of the day making them more productive not less
5 I always get side stitches or feel like I cant breathe What am I doing wrong
This is the 1 beginner mistake going too fast You should be able to hold a conversation while running If you cant slow down For side stitches try breathing