Walking away from running
Plan Your Next #108
đ 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.
đĄ Whatâs new?
âď¸ Itâs 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 runnerâs high, it sounds like euphoria. The ability to zone out, and quickly rack up five to ten miles feels like a dream.
Itâs not that I donât think I can, but because I canât find any joy in it.
In contrast, thereâs something so appealing about watching a graceful runner whoâs 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 youâre 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.
Itâs a cop-out to say I donât have the body for running. But this body does have its own mechanical issues. Over the years, Iâve attempted to fix this one by one:
Iâve 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.
Iâve 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 Iâve had surgery to fix an MCL tear in my knee.
Even after trying to aid my many broken parts, Iâve 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 apartmentâand straight uphillâyou could have postcard-like views of the city from all angles.
It didnât 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 moveânow with year-round predictable weatherâAlie 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 itâs 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 whatâs the secret to leveling up your walks?
Babies.
âĄď¸ Two creative hits for you to check out next
đˇ âEvery time I hear people talking about NFTs I think of thisâŚâ 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 đ¤Ł. Learn more about the entire story.
đ¨ 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
đ See you next Sunday
If youâve forgotten who I am, hereâs a little bit about me. As always, my calendar is open to chat about your next adventure, crazy idea, or if youâre 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?
The most ineffective fitness plan is the one you hate doing. Hereâs to family walks. đť