What a “good run” really is

It’s easy to think a good run looks a certain way.

Fast pace.
Long distance.
Effortless stride.
Garmin actually complimenting you 😉

But most good runs don’t look impressive at all.

A good run might be the one you nearly talked yourself out of — but didn’t.

The one where you slowed down instead of pushing through.

The one where you stopped early because your body asked you to.

A good run isn’t always comfortable.

But it doesn’t have to be punishing either.

Sometimes it’s:

• Moving your body when motivation is low

• Keeping the effort gentle when your head wants to prove something

• Finishing feeling tired, but not emptied

And sometimes — honestly — a good run is the one where you simply turn up.

We’re often taught to measure running by outcomes: pace, distance, time, progress.

Strava happily spits these numbers back at us.

But they only tell part of the story.

They don’t show:

• How your body felt today

• What your week has been like

• How much energy you actually had to give

A run that’s slower than last week can still be a good run.

A shorter run can still be a good run.

A run with walking breaks can absolutely still be a good run.

In fact, those are often the runs that build the strongest foundations.

At BraveKind, I look for something different.

A good run is one that:

• Fits around your real life

• Respects where your body is today

• Leaves you feeling able to come back again

Not every run needs to move you forward on paper.

Some runs simply keep you going — and that matters more than you think.

So next time you head out, try this question instead:

Did this run feel right for me today?

If the answer is yes —

It was a good run.

— Tim