The Limits I Built Alone Broke When I Started Running Together
For 10 years,
I believed “running alone was enough.”
Without anyone’s help,
Without comparing myself to anyone,
I simply ran within the limits I had set for myself.
But after just two months in a running club,
The wall of limits I had built around myself collapsed.
Things I never noticed when I ran alone.
Things you only see when you run together.
This is a record
of that change.
1. Running started when my body began to break down
It started as something that barely looked like running.
Frequent overseas business trips,
Uncontrolled drinking.
At some point,
I felt like my body was barely holding together.
My colds lasted over a month,
Even brushing lightly against a box made my skin turn red.
At that time, my thought was simple.
“Just do something.”
That was how running started.
I was in my early to mid-30s.
The elementary school track near my house.
I just pretended to run 10 laps.
But back then,
“I did what I planned to do today.”
That alone was enough to feel satisfied.
The first time I ran outside the track was along Hakui Stream.
After two or three months,
The track became boring.
For the first time,
I ran along Hakui Stream in the dark.
Instead of staring at a track,
Watching the scenery change along the stream
Somehow made running less boring.
Around that time,
I once visited Hakui Stream with my family.
My kids and my wife walked on the paved road,
While I ran briefly on the dirt path next to them.
My wife laughed and said:
“Why are you swinging your arms side to side like that?
Are you even running?
Why aren’t you getting farther away from us?”
At the time, I thought she was joking.
Looking back now,
Because I ran alone,
My posture and pace
Were probably all over the place.
2. The period of chasing records — and the limits I set for myself
5 km in 30 minutes — back then, it felt like a huge achievement
There was a season when it rained often.
I skipped morning runs frequently,
And eventually joined a gym near my house.
Treadmill speed 8.
That was my standard.
Then one day,
I saw someone running at speed 12.
That was the first time I realized:
“Ah… so that’s possible too.”
Increasing speed was much harder than I expected.
But a few weeks later,
I finally ran 5 km in 30 minutes.
At the time,
I thought it was an incredible achievement.
That’s how I ran — on and off — for 10 years.
Hakui Stream → Anyang Stream
5 km on weekdays
7 km on weekends
Then three years ago,
I pushed myself and ran 20 km.
And got injured.
Eventually,
I gave up
Speed
And distance.
That was when my mindset changed.
“Just run enough to sweat.”
A limit I set for myself.
Back then, I truly believed:
“10 km in 50 minutes has nothing to do with me.”
And that became
A fixed standard inside me.
3. The moment I realized the limits of running alone
2 months in a running club — and a late realization
By chance,
I joined a running club.
For the first time,
I experienced what “training” really meant.
During the last 5 laps,
I ran only watching the club leader’s feet.
My mind was filled only with numbers.
One lap.
Another lap.
And one thought kept repeating:
“Just hold on until the end.”
A record I could never have achieved alone.
Once,
I ran 10 km in 47 minutes.
It was so hard,
I never tried again.
But during club training,
I ran close to that record again.
If I had been alone,
I never could have done it.
4. What I finally realized
Something a new young member said today:
“When I run alone, I quit.
When I run with others, I don’t quit.”
After believing the opposite for over 10 years,
I felt a little regret.
“Why join a running club?
Running alone is enough.”
But still,
I’m glad I realized it now.
Even if it might be a little late.
