I have recently started running again, in earnest, after seven years of being pregnant, nursing, or preparing to be a gestational surrogate and I can say that, for me, while returning to running has been harder than I would like it to be, it has felt “just like riding a bike.” I won’t say that I have found returning to running to be as simple as Barney Stinson thought it was when he copleted the NYC Marathon with no training, but I have been taking it slowly and following some of the Tips for First-Time Runners and How to Return to Running After a Break that Moe Brown, RunVermont’s Director of Registration and a fitness trainer, blogged about in August and October and I have not been taken too far outside of my comfort zone, yet.

For me, what has never felt “just like riding a bike” is actually riding a bike. I look around at people who can bike without their hands on the handlebars or even just while drinking water and I’m amazed at their level of coordination and comfort on a bike that sometimes appears to be flying down the road at a terrifying speed. And do not get me started on the fear that I feel when I think about people choosing to go careening down a mountain bike trail hoping that the trees move in time. My two oldest kids, on the other hand, embraced strider-bike life and learned to ride pedal bikes when they were three and four. Now at four and six their idea of an awesome weekend morning is to bike 14 miles from Burlington to South Hero or go mountain biking on some of the easier trails at Saxon Hill. The two-year old giggles and says “go faster” from his perch on a shotgun seat at the front of my husband’s bike.

So, at age 40, I finally mountain biked for the first time. At Saxon Hill, on trails that I would have found it easier to run on. I didn’t change gears once, but I stayed upright and all the trees moved out of the way. And, a week later, I went again. This time, on trails in Randolph that were new to us as a family. I don’t know if I will ever be super comfortable on a bike or mountain biking, but I do know that because I was willing to get on that bike and go outside my comfort zone, I was able to have an awesome time with my family and I do something for which I am proud of myself.

Proof of Bike

Whether you are taking up running for the first time, tackling a new distance, trying new terrain, exploring somewhere new, going for a personal record (maybe with a training plan and/or coach), or coming back to running after time away, you’re probably going to find yourself stepping (or striding) outside your comfort zone. It’s easy to stick to familiar routes, comfortable paces, or the same weekly routine, but when you choose to try something new you choose to challenge yourself, and maybe even surprise yourself.

Running outside your comfort zone doesn’t have to mean extreme leaps. It can be as simple as signing up for a race, tackling a hill you usually avoid, running with a group that’s a little faster than you’re used to, or even just turning left when your usual route turns right. These small steps compound over time, transforming what once felt intimidating into your new normal and maybe even opening you up to something awesome. So, the next time you hesitate at the edge of your comfort zone, remember: that’s where the magic happens. Lace up, take the leap, and watch yourself grow with every stride.