426: R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find Out What It Means To Your Running

When it comes to running—and life—respect shows up in more ways than we often realize. It’s not just about manners or following the rules; it’s about how we treat ourselves, others, and the process of becoming the runners (and people) we want to be.

This week on the Real Life Runners Podcast, we’re starting a brand-new series on core values—the guiding principles we use with our cross-country team, and the same ones we live out as “real life runners.” 

Two weeks ago, we started with Integrity, and today we move on to Respect, because without it, growth becomes nearly impossible.

Let’s explore how respect can transform not only your running but also your everyday life.

The Power of Core Values in Running

Every athlete, whether they realize it or not, runs with a set of values. For us and our team, values like respect, integrity, and commitment are non-negotiables. They shape how we train, how we race, and how we handle setbacks.

Running isn’t just about workouts and mileage—it’s a mirror for how we show up in the rest of life. When we define our values and hold ourselves to them, we create a foundation for growth, confidence, and resilience.

Let’s take a look at how this can show up in our running journey.

Respect for Self

Respect always starts with you.

That means honoring your body with the rest, fuel, and recovery it truly needs. It’s listening when your body whispers so you don’t have to hear it scream. It’s acknowledging both your current reality and your future potential, without judgment.

Respect for self also shows up in mindset. Are your thoughts lifting you up or tearing you down? Do your daily choices line up with the runner you want to become?

Remember: respect isn’t just about pushing harder—it’s about knowing when to pull back, too.

Respect for the Sport

Running is a beautiful teacher. It rewards consistency, patience, and trust in the process.

Respecting the sport means embracing that reality—knowing that results don’t happen overnight. It means showing up to the “boring” workouts, building strength and mobility even when you’d rather skip them, and trusting that the little things matter.

The sport will challenge you. It will test your patience. And if you honor the process, it will give you back more than you ever imagined.

Respect for Competition

Competition often gets misunderstood. For us, it’s not about beating the person next to you—it’s about bringing out the best in yourself.

Healthy competition is rooted in respect. Respect for the effort you put in. Respect for the runners beside you, who are chasing their own goals. Respect for the courage it takes for anyone to step up to the starting line.

When you approach competition this way, it becomes less about comparison and more about connection. You realize that your “opponents” are actually teammates in this bigger game of self-discovery.

Respecting Emotional Seasons

This past week reminded us just how important it is to respect not only the body, but also the heart. Tragically losing our beloved dog, Indi, hit us harder than we expected, and it forced us to adjust our training and give ourselves grace.

Running can be a healing outlet, but it’s not always the answer. Sometimes respect means pressing pause, allowing yourself space to grieve, and remembering that you’re a whole person before you’re a runner.

Respect is more than a value—it’s a way of showing up for yourself, your training, and the people around you.

So we invite you to reflect:

• Where are you showing respect in your running right now?
  
• Where could you lean in a little more?
  
• What would change if respect became your default approach—on the roads, on the trails, and in your daily life?
  

Running is a journey, not just of miles, but of values. And when respect leads the way, every step carries more purpose.

So as you lace up this week, remember: respect the body, respect the process, respect the sport, and respect yourself.