Why Running Stuck with Me

Running has been my lifetime sport. I started early and never stopped. I was never the fastest in the pack, never an elite competitor, but running taught me lessons that have shaped my career and my approach to leadership. What I love about it is simple. You can do it anywhere, with anyone, at almost any time. It demands effort, discipline, and persistence. Those qualities also happen to be at the heart of good leadership.

Endurance Builds Leaders

When you run long distances, you learn quickly that success is not about sprinting. It is about managing your energy, keeping your focus, and showing up day after day. Endurance is what gets you through the miles.

The same is true in business. Companies rarely grow overnight. Teams rarely align instantly. Leaders need to play the long game. There will be days when progress feels slow or when setbacks threaten to knock you off course. That is when endurance matters most.

I remember growing Run Specialty Group from nothing to more than fifty stores. The process took years of steady work. It was not about a single brilliant move. It was about showing up every day, pushing through challenges, and trusting that consistent effort would pay off. Just like in running, endurance carried us to the finish line.

The Wall and How to Push Through

Every runner knows about hitting the wall. It is that point where your body feels like it has nothing left. The temptation to quit is overwhelming. But if you keep moving, even slowly, you discover reserves of strength you did not know you had.

In leadership, there are walls too. They show up in failed projects, financial pressure, or team conflict. Quitting is always an option, but pushing through those moments often leads to the biggest breakthroughs. You discover not only what you are capable of but also what your team can do together.

Walls are not signals to stop. They are signals to dig deeper.

The Power of Community

Running is often seen as an individual sport, but I believe its greatest strength is community. Group runs, relay events, and community races create connections that go far beyond the miles. I have made lifelong friends on the road.

In leadership, community plays the same role. A strong business is not just a collection of employees. It is a group of people working toward something bigger than themselves. Leaders who create community build loyalty and trust that no paycheck alone can buy.

At RNK Running, we did not just sell shoes. We built a space where people felt they belonged. We sponsored high school track teams and organized events because we wanted to be more than a store. That sense of community is what turned customers into lifelong supporters.

Training Matters More Than Race Day

When people think about running, they picture race day. The cheering crowds, the medals, the finish line photos. But the truth is that the real work happens in training. Race day is just the result of months of preparation.

In leadership, the same is true. Success is not about the one big launch or the splashy announcement. It is about the countless hours of preparation behind the scenes. It is about the team meetings, the process mapping, the tough conversations, and the steady grind.

If you neglect the training, the race will expose it. If you put in the work, the race becomes a celebration of what you already built.

Leading Like a Pacer

In many races, there are pacers. These are the runners who set a steady rhythm for others to follow. Their role is not to finish first but to help others achieve their goals. Pacers remind us that leadership is not about being out in front for personal glory. It is about helping the group reach the finish line together.

In business, leaders need to think like pacers. Set the rhythm. Encourage others when they struggle. Celebrate when they succeed. A good leader is measured not by their own finish time but by how many people they helped across the line.

Balance Between Competition and Support

Running teaches an interesting balance. On one hand, you compete against yourself to get stronger and faster. On the other hand, you support others in their goals. This blend of competition and support is exactly what makes teams thrive.

In business, I want my teams to push themselves, to improve their skills and aim for higher performance. But I also want them to support each other. True success is when individuals grow while the group grows even stronger together.

What Running Reminds Me Every Day

When I put on my shoes and head out the door, I am reminded that progress is simple but not easy. One foot in front of the other. Step by step. Day by day. Leadership is no different. You do not need to be flashy or perfect. You just need to be consistent, committed, and willing to keep going when others stop.

Running gave me endurance. It gave me community. It gave me a way to see leadership not as a position but as a journey. And like any long run, the journey is not about how quickly you finish. It is about who you become and who you bring with you along the way.