After running daily for 3-4 weeks, I learned a lot about running, which I actually forgot because I was running a lot in elementary school. Here are the points I re-learned.
1. Weather. This is a surprisingly good thing I learned. The weather is the most important factor in running. If it is too hot, with the sun shining, it adds extra pressure. And when you don't have a cap or anything to cover your head in this heat, the pressure doubles. On the other hand, days with clouds and wind can help you a lot when running, as you feel grateful.
2. Track. The place where you are running is kind of crucial. Since I happen to live just two steps away from the running track in the local park, it makes running easier and more convenient to reach. So I don't have to spend extra time to get there, which keeps me motivated.
3. People. Sometimes, running on the track can be very crowded, especially after 6 PM. It makes running enjoyable because you are running with other people, but it also makes it challenging since many kids and "let's take a walk" adults are walking around and crowding the space to run. You should be extra careful not to bump into those kids and also watch out for bicycles and other forms of transportation.
4. Uniform. The best sneakers are going to win. Currently, I have decent Adidas shoes, but I feel a lot of pressure on my knees and feet, largely because of my weight, I believe. So, I need more professional shoes to help ease the pressure of my body weight on my feet. I am thinking about buying new sneakers; I have seen a few good options at the local Nike store. But before that, I plan to visit Adidas as well.
5. Technology. I never thought that technology could help you start running, stay motivated, and keep going during bad weather, on crowded tracks, or when you have knee pain. Currently, I am using "Strava," and it's like a personal dashboard to see how I'm doing and what can be improved.
6. Nature. More like a continuation of the first point, "Weather," and it feels terrific being close to nature, fresh air for all these landscapes to experience all kinds of weather conditions. For example, in such a short period as a week, you can see many versions of cloudy days, sunny days, sunsets, and all kinds of variations of rainy days. It's amazing.
7. Fresh start. Running is kind of like writing, which is what I am doing right at this second. I intentionally avoid any music and do my best to stay present and feel everything that running causes in me body. I am not trying to avoid "thoughts" that come my way while I am running; I welcome them with both hands.
8. Thinking. Any human being is a thinking machine, and you think a lot while running, a lot. It's not necessary to think about a lot; you can focus on your breath, your knees, your back, and nature around you. But thinking while running is the best.
9. Choice. You're just observing yourself. These days, I could have gone to the nearest shop, gotten a pack of Heineken, a bag of fried chicken, opened my laptop, and watched some TV shows. Instead, I got here sweating, in heavy rain or under intense sun, sometimes with shoes so wet like a dog after swimming, knees hurting, and you think, "that's kind of the level I am talking about."
10. Sleep. As you have guessed, running can easily replace unhealthy activities, not necessarily to healthy ones, but closer to healthy, or at least help you steer clear of unhealthy ones. Drinking beer is one of the best things on Earth, and it's even better if you have enough chicken or pork and something you enjoy watching. But doing these activities regularly may not be the best choice because it greatly affects your weight. There can be tasks that demand intense focus, but you're drinking beer and watching HIMYM instead, and alcohol affects sleep quality.
11. Focus. I'm not saying that regular running (I'm only in my fourth week) has changed my life, but it has improved my sleep quality. I can now sleep about 8 hours a night and stay more focused on my daily tasks compared to when I had a day with chicken and beer the day before.
12. Perspective. Not that I was ignoring all these things; the only thing is that when you are running, you feel it more closely, more intimately. And such obvious things, like I mentioned, you are experiencing from an utterly different angle and perspective. It's like seeing the same view from a place you never thought you'd see; you had no idea you could have such viewpoints.