When I was younger as a runner, I think I wanted to run fast for the usual reasons.
I wanted to chase PRs. I wanted to beat my previous time. I wanted to push my limits every week — not just in speed, but also in distance. There was always this feeling of, “Kaya ko pa ba mas mabilis?” or “Can I go farther this time?”
And if I’m being honest, maybe part of me also wanted to be faster than some people I knew.
That was probably the mindset of my younger running self. Running fast felt like proof. Proof that I was improving. Proof that I was getting stronger. Proof that all the training, all the early mistakes, all the effort meant something.
Every week, I wanted to test myself. Faster pace. Longer distance. More effort. More mileage.
At that time, it was exciting. It gave me drive. It gave me something to chase.
But over time, I also learned that always chasing speed can become tiring. There was a point when running started to feel less sustainable. When every run becomes a test, every workout becomes a challenge, and every race becomes a pressure, the joy can slowly disappear.
And I think that’s where maturity as a runner starts to come in.
Nowadays, I still want to run fast.
But the reason is different now.
I don’t run fast just because I want to beat my PR. I don’t run fast because I want to prove that I’m better than another runner. I don’t run fast because I feel the need to push my body to the limit every single time.
Now, I see running fast as a test of fitness.
It’s a way to see what my body can do when I train properly, recover properly, eat better, sleep better, and follow a guided program. It’s no longer about punishing myself. It’s about enjoying the process and respecting the body that allows me to move.
These days, I make sure there is structure. I train with a coach. I follow a program. I understand that not every run has to be hard. Some days are for speed. Some days are for easy runs. Some days are for recovery. And sometimes, the most important part of training is knowing when not to push.
That’s one of the biggest lessons running has taught me: speed is not something you force every day.
Speed comes with fitness.
And fitness comes from consistency.
As I mature in the sport, my goal is no longer just to become a faster runner. My goal is to become a healthier, stronger, and more capable version of myself. Running is just one of the ways that fitness shows up.
When your body gets stronger, it shows in your runs. When your endurance improves, it shows in your pace. When your nutrition, sleep, and recovery improve, it shows in how you perform — not only in races, but also in everyday life.
And now, if I don’t hit a PR or a time goal, hey, it’s okay. I don’t take it as failure anymore. I take it as feedback.
Maybe my fitness has dipped a little. Maybe I wasn’t fully rested. Maybe I didn’t recover well, didn’t fuel properly, or maybe life just got in the way that week. And that’s fine.
Before, missing a goal time would probably frustrate me. But now, I use it as information. It helps me understand where I am, what I need to adjust, and how I can continue improving without being too hard on myself.
Because not every race has to be a breakthrough. Sometimes, it’s just a check-in.
That’s why today, running fast feels more meaningful.
It’s no longer about chasing someone else.
It’s about discovering what my body can still do.
It’s about asking, “How fit can I become at this age?” and “What kind of life can I still build because I continue to take care of myself?”
And maybe that’s the beautiful thing about running. The reasons change as we grow.
In the beginning, we run to prove something.
Later on, we run to understand ourselves better.
Before, I wanted to run fast to chase PRs.
Now, I want to run well so I can keep doing this for many more years.
Because for me, success is no longer just about one race result or one finish time. Success is being able to run even in my 70s or 80s. Success is being able to travel, move, perform, and enjoy the things I love well beyond my senior years.
And the community plays a big role in that journey.
It’s still inspiring to see other people run, train, improve, struggle, recover, and achieve things they once thought were impossible. But now, instead of comparing myself to others, I see their journeys as reminders of what’s possible.
Their progress inspires me. Their wins encourage me. Their consistency reminds me to keep showing up too.
So why do I still want to run fast?
Not because I need to prove that I’m better.
But because running fast, when done with the right mindset, reminds me that I am still growing. Still improving. Still capable.
Before, running fast was about proving myself.
Now, running fast is about celebrating what fitness, patience, and years of showing up can build.
