Walking away from running

Plan Your Next #108

May 22, 2022

👋 Good morning from Los Angeles! I'm Nate Kadlac, and this is #108 of Plan Your Next. A Sunday newsletter that connects design, creativity, and how you prepare for your next thing.

💡 What’s new?

✈️ It’s been three years since we spent time in NYC. That changes this week!

I wish I loved to run.

When people who actively run talk about getting a runner’s high, it sounds like euphoria. The ability to zone out, and quickly rack up five to ten miles feels like a dream.

It’s not that I don’t think I can, but because I can’t find any joy in it.

In contrast, there’s something so appealing about watching a graceful runner who’s at the mile five mark barely breaking a sweat while calmly taking a call on their AirPods like they were resting at a desk with their feet up.

Here in LA, taking a walk around the Silver Lake Reservoir (it looks better than it sounds) feels like you’re getting passed by beautiful gazelles, who somehow find joy running in circles.

Compare that perfect image to my huge calves that ricochet a rifle-like sound off the pavement while my lungs feel like they are siphoning fuel from a hose.

It’s a cop-out to say I don’t have the body for running. But this body does have its own mechanical issues. Over the years, I’ve attempted to fix this one by one:

I’ve been fitted for running shoes to fit my wide and messed-up feet, which includes at least one bunion.
I read Born to Run, and called myself Barefoot Nate for two summers before realizing I messed my feet up even more.
I’ve watched videos promising I could turn my flat feet into arches if only I spent 10 minutes a day flexing my feet for a year.
And I’ve had surgery to fix an MCL tear in my knee.

Even after trying to aid my many broken parts, I’ve just never found running all that fun.

And so with a huge sigh and an eye roll, I decided to embrace walking.

It took me a while to embrace this because living in Minneapolis wipes out all the fun for five months of the year. Between December and April is when good habits go to die. Or comfortable walking.

When I moved to San Francisco, walking became more ordinary. Within minutes of leaving your apartment—and straight uphill—you could have postcard-like views of the city from all angles.

It didn’t hurt that we lived across the street from Golden Gate Park, or that everything we needed was within blocks of our apartment.

At some point after our move—now with year-round predictable weather—Alie and I started a Saturday morning routine that continues to this day.

The key to enjoying walking even more is not by chasing every new trail or route, but to walk the same paths repeatedly. Looking at the details, and appreciating the inconsistencies in the world around you.

But now, nothing has gotten me more excited to walk than to take a wide-eyed one-year-old around the city in her stroller.

Our Saturday walks have blossomed into twice daily walks, and it’s only becoming more addicting watching her get excited to be in a stroller, gawking at anything and everything, or zoning out and taking it all in.

So what’s the secret to leveling up your walks?

Babies.

⚡️ Two creative hits for you to check out next

🕷 “Every time I hear people talking about NFTs I think of this…” An email from 2008 where David Thorne tries to pay his utility bills with a picture of a seven-legged spider. Way ahead of his time 🤣. Learn more about the entire story.

Potato Guard @feistybunnygirl

Every time I hear people talking about NFTs I think of this

🎨 Sometimes you see color combinations that feel like they were chosen by God. I absolutely love how these turned out, and the rest of the portfolio is filled with delightful color choices. H/T Ugmonk

👋 See you next Sunday

If you’ve forgotten who I am, here’s a little bit about me. As always, my calendar is open to chat about your next adventure, crazy idea, or if you’re feeling creatively stuck.

Have a great week,

p.s. If you enjoyed this letter, would you please let me know by tapping on the heart below?