The real advantage running gave me | running made me stronger, but not in the way you think

The examined life - Thoughts from Self · Jul 2, 2026 · 6m

When was the last time you spent an hour alone with your thoughts?No phone. No music. No podcast. No distractions.Most people think the greatest benefit of running is physical fitness. A stronger body. Better endurance. Better health.But after years of long-distance running, I've found that the real advantage has very little to do with fitness at all.In this episode, I explore how running became a form of moving meditation, why silence has become increasingly rare in the modern world, and how spending hours alone with my thoughts improved the quality of my decisions. From relationships I…