If you told me 10 years ago that I’d be writing a blog about why I love running, I would’ve laughed.
I’ve been a CrossFit coach for the past 10 years. My happy place has always been barbells, Gymnastics , Olympic lifts, and pushing intensity. Running? It was just that annoying part of a workout that I wanted to get over with.
Last year, everything changed.
During a weightlifting competition, I tore my ACL. That injury led to ACL reconstruction surgery, and suddenly, my training looked completely different. No heavy squats. No max snatches. No explosive jumps.
Instead, I had rehab.
And somewhere between all those boring rehab sessions and slow jogs, I realised something…
Running wasn’t my enemy anymore.
It became part of my recovery. It taught me patience, humility, and how to appreciate movement again.
So if you’re someone who hates running like I did, here are 10 things that helped me change my mindset.
This was the biggest lesson.
As a CrossFitter, everything is about intensity. Go harder. Go faster.
After surgery, I couldn’t.
Running slowly felt weird at first, but it also made running much more enjoyable. Once I stopped racing every run, I actually started looking forward to it.
After ACL surgery, there was a time I wasn’t sure if I’d ever feel normal again.
So every time I lace up my shoes now, I remind myself that running is a privilege.
Some days I’m fast.
Some days I’m slow.
Either way, I’m moving.
I used to think a run only counted if it was long.
Now?
Even 20 minutes is enough.
Consistency beats one epic run every month.
Running became my reset button.
No phone.
No coaching.
No athletes asking questions.
Just me, my thoughts, and the road.
Some of my best ideas have come during easy runs.
This one was hard.
When you’ve been coaching for years, you’re used to performing.
Recovery doesn’t care about your ego.
Some days I got passed by people twice my age.
And that’s okay.
Every run is still progress.
Running the same road every day gets boring.
Explore a park.
Run by the beach.
Find a quiet neighbourhood.
A new view makes a huge difference.
Before surgery, I compared myself with stronger athletes.
After surgery, I compared myself with the old version of me.
Neither helped.
Now I only compare myself with yesterday.
That’s enough.
I used to think recovery meant lying on the couch.
Now an easy run actually helps me feel better.
It gets the body moving, clears my head, and makes me feel ready for the next training session.
The old me ignored aches.
The new me pays attention.
Recovery taught me that pain and discomfort aren’t always the same thing.
Some days the best run is the one you don’t force.
These days I’m not running to win medals.
I’m running because I almost lost the ability to.
Every kilometre reminds me how far I’ve come since surgery.
And honestly, that’s more meaningful than any personal best.
If you’ve always hated running, I get it.
I was that person.
I’d choose heavy cleans over a 5K any day.
But life has a funny way of teaching us lessons.
My ACL injury forced me to slow down. Recovery forced me to be patient. Running taught me to appreciate movement in a completely different way.
I’m still a CrossFit coach. I still love lifting heavy.
But now, when I head out for a run, I don’t see it as punishment anymore.
I see it as proof that my body is healing, getting stronger, and giving me another chance to do what I love.
Sometimes the things we resist the most end up teaching us the biggest lessons.
Shahril Akbal
Senior Coach
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