Flat road.

Back when I lived in Pittsburgh, I was running a lot. I used to run almost every day. I still run but not as often as I did when I lived in Pittsburgh. 

At the height of my running, I was living at my mom’s house in Bethel Park.

My route was about 5.5 miles. 

I’d leave the house and I’d head towards the park at the bottom of the hill. 

Most of the park consisted of flat road. The flat road was nice because it allowed me to get in a groove and keep steady pace. 

In the middle of my route, I’d come upon a giant hill. Some people call it ‘Buffalo Hill’ although I’m not sure it has an actual formal name. 

It’s steep and it sucks to run.

If I were to guess, I’d say the hill’s about a tenth of a mile long although it feels triple that when you’re running it.

To mix up my runs, I’d run the hill for extra work.

3-6 hills depending on the day. 

If my running on the flat road was level 4 out of 10 in difficulty, the hills were at least a 7. And they’d get progressively harder the more hills I ran.

At a certain point in the climb, I’d inevitably want to give up. I’d be so exhausted that all I could think about was how badly I wanted to bail, turn around, and walk to the bottom.

It was a mental game. A game I was always determined to win.

The way I’d win that mental fame time and time again was by thinking less about the overall run I was on and more about each individual step. 

“One foot after another,” I’d tell myself. I’d repeat the mantra in my head until I was at the top of the hill. I’d run back to the bottom of the hill and as soon as it got difficult again, I’d continue with my internal chant.

It was all I could focus on. I wouldn’t allow myself to think about anything other than putting one foot in front of the other until my hills were complete. 

Before I knew it, I’d be back on the flat road and I’d be free to think about whatever I wanted.

I didn’t realize it then but maybe this practice has a real life application. 

And maybe whatever it is you’re struggling with right now seems a lot more difficult in your mind than it really is. 

Try thinking less about the problem as a whole. Try taking it one step at a time. 

You’ll be back on flat road before you know it.