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Humans of New York profile gives heartfelt explanation of how running makes her feel in control about aging

Wise words spoken right from the heart

One Humans of New York profile pretty much hit the nail square on the head when she explained the control running brings to her life.

As this 47-year-old woman put it, aging can be quite difficult emotionally. When others seem to be passing her by, making bolder decisions and bigger career moves, it’s inevitable that the self doubt would creep in. Running of course, is an excellent antidote to those feelings because, as she explains, it brings a sense of control, success and stability.

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One of the best things about running is that it’s the runner who calls the shots: how far to run, when to do it, when to speed up, when to take a break. Not to mention, the commitment pays off. As this wise woman points out, it’s a vulnerable time for many right now. You can’t control age, politics, world events, work life or personal relationships. But in the midst of the craziness, a hobby like running will make you feel like you’re standing on solid ground.

This woman’s quote, below in full, was posted on Nov. 14. Since then, it has garnered over 160 thousand likes.

“A lot of younger people pass by me while I’m running. It’s a bit of a metaphor for the rest of my life. I turned forty-seven in October. I’m starting to have bosses that are younger than me. It’s causing me to question what my experience is worth. I’m noticing that my younger colleagues are more adventurous and take more risks—either because they don’t know about failure or they don’t care. As I get older, I feel like more and more of my life is outside my control. That’s why I started training for the marathon. I want to be in control of something. I can’t control current events. I can’t control politics. I can’t even control my personal relationships. But I can control my legs. I can put one leg in front of the other. I can decide the miles that I run each day, each week, each month. And it feels great. I get a rush every time I make it to the top of a hill.”

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