On the surface, physical fitness and writing seem like completely unrelated activities, but I am not convinced that is true. I believe that running helps me as a writer.
Several informative articles and forum threads delve into this topic in-depth. I can see why. There does seem to be some known benefits and correlations. I found this 2023 Post, “We Love Writing. And Procrastinating. Running Helps Us Do Both,” from Outside, in which contributor Brendan Leonard asks journalists, fiction writers, poets, cartoonists, songwriters, and other professional creatives how running affects their work. Their answers were as interesting as they were varied, yet there did seem to be some common themes. I’m not quite a professional yet, but I thought I might share my thoughts.
Running gives me the mental clarity to come up with new ideas. I am disconnected from my phone, the internet, and the hubbub of life. I have no distractions so that I can puzzle through story mechanics, plot holes, character motivations, subplot threads, and the next of actions. It is one of the two places where I have my eureka moments (the other is when I drink wine alone and disconnected).
I share a similar approach to writing as I do with running. It is a habit that I follow as a routine because it involves measurable tasks (words and miles) that require allocated time. There are days that I love to do it, and days that I just show up. It is easy to start (with a computer and shoes), but challenging to master. No matter how skilled I become, there will always be experts who surpass me, but both have supportive communities that pay it forward, regardless of where I am in my journey. It is about personal achievements rather than arbitrary milestones.
I can’t stress enough the impact better health has on my motivation to write. Running helps reduce my stress, because when I feel anxious, I tend not to write. When I’m out of shape, I feel sluggish and unwell, which reduces my motivation to write.
For both activities, I need a clear objective. As a writer, I am working on the next story. As a runner, it is the next race. Without those objectives, I will lose interest and stop pursuing them. I am currently working on “Lab 731” and running the L.A. Conqueror 50-mile Virtual Challenge.
It doesn’t take much to form a lasting habit, which is good news for me. Currently, I am only running about 7 miles a week, but if I enter the Army Birthday 6K on June 8, 2025, I will need to start a program to increase my weekly mileage.
Finally, I love the team-building aspect of running. Some of the Writers of the Future winners ran together during our week in Hollywood. Samantha and Sarah joined me for a Star Trek 100-mile Virtual Challenge called the Klingon Code. It can be a shared experience with friends, family, fans, and fellow writers.
I may try another team run this year, but until then, I hope to see you on the trail.
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