“If you just planted some seeds in your garden today, you wouldn’t go outside tomorrow and yell at them because there wasn’t any fruit yet. So don’t dig up your seeds. Be patient, and know that it will happen – what receives your care and attention will flourish.” ~Denise Linn

In the fast-paced world we live in, full of technology and access to just about anything, we often seek immediate gratification. If we spend time doing something, we want to see immediate results. When we work hard, we want that effort to translate instantly.

When it comes to running, success is a journey. Nothing happens instantly with running. I’ve been talking with and working with numerous runners this year who are learning the greatest secret of running: patience.

Just like the seeds we may plant in our garden, becoming a stronger runner takes time and care. There are many things we can do to spark our growth, like being consistent with our training, building our base slowly and safely, stretching and foam rolling, integrating speed work, etc. Similarly, like a drought or intense winds that can destroy our plants, there are just as many things out of our control that can stunt our running growth – illness, injury, weather, stomach issues. Unexpected challenges are a part of running. There is sadly no way for us to escape them. Our patience in how we deal with them and overcome them dictates how quickly and effectively we will grow.

Lately, I’ve been talking to a number of runners about their challenges … and their impatience in dealing with them.

I had several bad runs this week. Maybe I’m not ready for my race after all.

I’m in a lot of pain, but I just really want to run my race this month.

I just got sick. Should I still run my race?!?

My pace is so slow. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? If so, you’re not alone.

What’s the worst that can happen?

The next time you find yourself impatient from all the challenges running throws your way, consider the very worst that can happen:

You might have to slow down.

You might have to walk.

You may not finish quite as fast as you hoped.

You may need to take a few weeks off to heal so you can run long-term.

You may have to back out of a race and choose another one.

I know all of these things are disappointing, especially if you’ve been working hard for a goal for a long time. But if you think about it, these things aren’t really that bad. They are hard in the moment and they are incredibly frustrating, but the next training season or cycle comes faster than it seems. I have watched so many runners come back from injury or heartbreak with the most amazing races and results than they could have previously imagined. I remember when my own marathon journey first began, I got a case of runner’s knee right before I signed up for my first marathon. So I waited until the following fall, and one year later I ran the race I had originally wanted to run and exceeded my expectations. It didn’t happen overnight, but it will happen.

Remember that with patience come results. Don’t dig up your seeds.

Most often, we learn our greatest lessons about running from the challenges and difficult times we go through. Patience is a virtue. You’ve got this.

Are you an impatient runner? What are the toughest challenges you have overcome since you started running? Do you have any advice for those struggling with patience right now?