“This is the magic of something like a marathon,” Dr. Rangan Chatterjee shared during our recent podcast recording (launching soon). “What amazed me wasn’t finishing the marathon — it was seeing strangers come together, smiling, giving love, and sharing joy.”
He spoke of the London Marathon he ran, where even in tough neighborhoods, families handed out sweets, cheering on runners without care for differing views. It was a great reminder of our shared humanity.
In today’s divided world, staying calm is harder than ever. The news cycle overwhelms, social media thrives on outrage, and stress takes a toll on many people’s health. This week I noticed this first hand while helping answer some customer service emails for our running clothing company Path Projects.
Ryan Holiday recently wrote some great thoughts on this topic as well, we don’t have to let it infect us.
A calm mind can make running feel so much easier.
Like runners in a race, we can stay focused, adapt, and take the next step:
- Breathe deeply. Your breath anchors you, whether in a race or in life’s chaos.
- Run your own race. Stay grounded in your values, no matter the noise.
- Lean on community. Support and kindness make all the difference.
Chaos is a chance to grow stronger and stay true to who we are. The kindness we show and the calm we create can have a big impact.
Stay steady, be kind and have fun out there on your runs.
Cheers,
Floris Gierman
P.S. Starting in January we’re launching our first Monthly Habit Challenges, to build consistency, stay motivated, and level up your running and daily life. Available to all PB members, more info here.
