as I continued to run, my body started to accept the fact that it was running, and I could gradually increase the distance. I was starting to acquire a runner’s form, my breathing became more regular, and my pulse settled down. The main thing was not the speed or distance so much as running every day, without taking a break.

An out-of-town friend and lifelong runner cajoles us into it or a spontaneous cousin suggests lacing up together during a visit. The first few minutes of the run feel strange. We can hear one another breathing. We are too close. What pace are we going to run at? Then, suddenly, it clicks, even if only for a few minutes. We get into a rhythm, our br

Our experiences showed us that the key to a sustainable love of the running process was to practice a perspective that supports unconditional self-acceptance in the face of an uncertain running (and life) future.