Fifteen years ago, running saved me. I laced up my shoes(probably not the kind of shoes for running) and ran my way through grief, disappointment, and hopelessness. The endorphins worked wonders, helping me process the pain while building physical endurance.
But then, life shifted.
After the pandemic, running didn’t feel the same. I started tripping and falling on my runs. My body needed something different. It needed strength, not just endurance. I began building muscle by working out with a couple of fitness experts on YouTube.
In 2024, I discovered ruck walking. My son and husband had begun adding it to their workouts. I thought it was a little extra, but I decided to try it while on a hiatus from running.
It’s simple but powerful: you walk with a weighted backpack. It strengthens your shoulders, back, legs, and glutes—and it’s become a new metaphor for life.
You can find the various weight packs HERE.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Running builds endurance, and resistance builds strength. Both are important, but sometimes, you need to shift gears and meet your body where it’s at.
- Carrying weight–forces you to stand taller, balance better, and grow stronger.
- Some weights are necessary. In life, we cannot avoid burdens; it’s about learning to carry them with purpose.
Strength for Every Season of Life🌿
As we age, our approach to health has to evolve. What worked in one season won’t necessarily work in the next. Here’s a quick guide to building strength in the different decades of life:
🎧Your 20’s:
- Survive and thrive! Life is stressful–balancing work, bills, relationships, and figuring out who you are. Stress impacts your body more than you think, so start small: establish routines, move your body regularly, eat regularly and well, invite boundaries, and prioritize moments when you power down with rest.
- Stay connected to the Vine [add scripture verse]
(Bonus tip: Pay your bills on time–your immune system will thank you later!😂)
🧘🏽♀️Your 30’s:
- If you become a parent, your routine will shift every time a new heartbeat joins the family. Give yourself grace when things don’t fall together quite as you thought.
- Pay attention to your circle of friends: Begin to release those who drain your energy and embrace a smaller circle of friends.
- Prioritize connecting to your triggers and glimmers. [This is for any age 😁]
💃🏽Your 40’s and 50’s:
- This is where things get real. Hormones shift. Perimenopause and menopause symptoms may creep in. Let me tell you: most doctors aren’t ready for you, but you can be ready for yourself.
- Be your advocate. Find out what your body needs—supplements, strength training, or a whole new routine. Change doctors if necessary. This is your time to take control.
The Big Takeaway🎒
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. – Hebrews 12-1-2(NLT)
Whether running or ruck walking, I’ve learned that our weights can strengthen us.
Not all weight is bad. Some burdens refine us, build us, shape and prepare us for what’s ahead.
Life is a journey of learning when to let go of the things that trip you up(fear, inadequacy, shame) and when to embrace the weights that build endurance and trust in a God who loves and sees you.
So, lean into the process wherever you are—whether running, walking, or resting. Carry what strengthens you, release what holds you back, and let God shape you in every step. I hope you keep going.
