This semester, I had the opportunity to have an independent study journalism workshop with my university’s athletic department (which basically translates to ‘I get to write feature articles on athletes for credit’). This past week, I featured a junior cross runner, Luke Evans. Not knowing the team very well, I simply asked the graduate assistant for his recommendation on who to interview. I lucked out; Luke was fantastic. He was honest and open, and gave incredibly intelligent answers to all of my intrusive questions.

As I transcribed Luke’s 45-minute-long interview and typed it into a story, I realized how many parallels there were between his insights on running as a sport and life. Without even trying, Luke weaved together perceptions that maybe every person is looking for, even if they don’t know it. Since the article doesn’t blatantly draw the connections between running and life, I thought I’d make them here.

Timing is everything.

There is really only one true rival when it comes to cross country: the clock. Sure, there are opponents but it’s not the school on a jersey or a name that you’re racing, it’s the time those jerseys and names represent. Runners and non-runners alike share this in common: at the end of the day, we’re all just watching the clock. We’re waiting anxiously for something to end or something to begin, we’re trying to be better than those around us, we’re constantly looking to improve ourselves. If you’re career-orientated like myself, life itself is a race, a long one at that, and thus requires strategy, forward mindedness and the ability to change your strategy as needed. Time is life, and even if we don’t like, we all live by its rules.

Don't start too fast.

Luke and I talked a lot of about running an 8k, which is just a hint under 5 miles. Luke spends the first of those 5 miles telling himself to chill and relax. In cross country, anyone can run a mile fast, but what matters is how fast you run 5 miles. If you take the first mile too hasty, you’re going to tire too quickly and your final time- the only one of true importance- will suffer. Basically, you have to pace yourself, or you’ll burn out. Sound familiar? I think we all have experienced this on some level. If you overload your course schedule or take on too much with extracurricular activities, you’ll burn out before midterms. Or if you’re like me and get ridiculously excited about something and run at it full speed, only to tire of it because I jumped in and took on too much too quickly. We see this pattern everywhere- in careers, in school, in relationships. Start too fast, burn out before the finish.

Limits are meant to be pushed.

In cross country, you hear all sorts of stories about runners blacking out or passing out, running through excruciatingly painful injuries or even vomiting mid or post run. To be frank, I don’t at all understand the concept of running so hard you literally pass out. But for distance runners, apparently it’s a thing. Luke told me how workouts are, yes, meant to get runners in shape but they are also designed purposely to push runners to their limits. According to Luke, you actually want to find your limit simply so you can convince your body to push past it. In life too. No one should settle on whatever limit you currently have. Find it, break it, repeat. That I can understand.

It's not what you're doing, it's who you're with.

Cross country is kind of the worst. It’s not something many of us can even fathom enjoying. But Luke does enjoy it. And maybe that’s in part of because he finds some sort of appeal in running 10 miles at a time, but I think a lot has to do with his teammates. In a sport that can prove to be so dreadful at times, it’s vital to be surrounded by people who ease the pain and make a less-than-ideal situation pleasurable. In his own way, Luke hinted that it doesn’t matter so much what you’re doing, but rather who you’re with. The right people can make all the difference, So choose your friends (AKA your teammates in life) carefully.