There Are No Junk Miles

There Are No Junk Miles

By Kenny Ames

There are no junk miles. Every mile run is an accomplishment. Every step we take and continue in motion is an achievement. If you attach a purpose to each run, then you assign meaning to every mile. How could that be junk?

Some would offer a definition of junk miles as being those that are not adding to overall performance. They may believe there are no bad miles, but that these excessive miles are not optimal for performance. One coach may say any run that isn’t a quality session or long run is junk. The theory is that some miles are useful but others useless or even counterproductive.

I don’t subscribe to that theory. I argue that there are many reasons why we run, so how could they be junk? Some miles are faster than others. I don’t try to run my track mile pace while pushing the double Bob up a hill. Some miles I take easier than others, which is advisable. Instead of viewing these miles as junk, examine just why do we run?

I run for health and fitness: I like the way my body feels when I run and at rest. I love the extra energy it gives me throughout the day. It helps me break out of my inertia, keeping me in motion.

I run for mindfulness. It allows me to connect with my thoughts, process my day, my job, focus on how I feel, concentrate on my goals, and brings me peace. I run without music to connect with nature, or I run with music. And sometimes that music is Raffi, so my son is entertained.

I run to be a better father. I have a Bob single and double stroller, so I have run thousands of miles with my boys, bringing them to playgrounds, soccer, t-ball, and other activities. I love sharing the world and the nature around us. And sometimes, I run to give my wife a quiet house for her to exercise, decompress, work, or explore her interests without interruption.

I run to connect with my friends. These last few years, my closest friends are those that lace up with me. It’s our social time together. This is our new happy hour.

I run to explore. When traveling, I love to get my bearings with a run on a path or through the city.

I run to race and achieve my goals. As I grow into older age groups, I still want to set lifetime personal records. Each race is a test, but more so, it is my attempt to squeeze more life out of my years.

I run to get where I am going. I have been commuting to and from work on foot for years. I’ve strapped on my backpack full of a change of clothes and lunch. That’s allowed me to get my run in headed to work or home. As time is precious, if I didn’t run commute, I might not have the time I want to run.

I run to collect. I collect miles and count them weekly, monthly, yearly, and overall. I have collected a marathon in over half the states. I have collected new cities and countries. I have collected memories.

How could our reasons for running be junk? If we are smart enough to take easy days easy, cross train, ditch a run if sick or injured or life dictates, then no run can be junk. Each run has a purpose. Every mile is an accomplishment. Every run brings me closer to my goals. So-called junk miles don’t exist: cherish and count them all.

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