If you've ever wondered why or how running and writing are similar activities to each other, then read on. I'm sharing 50 analogies that show how writing is a lot more like running that you might think. Both require perseverance, tenacity, and starting/finishing a BIG goal.

1. Starting Line: Just like a runner poised at the starting line, a writer begins with a blank page.
2. Warm-Up: Writers warm up by brainstorming ideas, much like runners stretch before a race.
3. Pacing: Just as runners pace themselves, writers must control the flow of their narrative.
4. Sprinting: Sometimes, writing requires sprinting to meet deadlines, similar to a runner's final push.
5. Marathon: Writing a novel is akin to running a marathon, requiring endurance and dedication.
6. Training: Writers need to practice and train their skills, similar to athletes.
7. Runner's High: Writers experience a "writer's high" when the words flow effortlessly.
8. Obstacles: Writers face obstacles like writer's block, akin to a runner encountering hurdles.
9. Racing against time: Deadlines in writing are like race times in running, urging you to perform.
10. Hill Climbing: Overcoming writer's block is like conquering a steep hill during a run.
11. Breathing: Just as runners focus on their breath, writers pay attention to sentence structure.
12. Form: Good writing, like proper running form, is crucial for success.
13. Finish Line: Completing a manuscript is like crossing the finish line of a race.
14. Competition: Writers often compete for attention and readers, similar to athletes.
15. Second Wind: Sometimes, writers find a second wind, pushing through tough spots like runners.
16. Coach: Writers may seek guidance from mentors, like runners have coaches.
17. Team Relay: Collaborative writing is akin to a relay race, passing the baton of ideas.
18. Injury: Writer's burnout is like a runner's injury, requiring rest and recovery.
19. Training Plan: Writers have writing schedules, much like runners have training regimens.
20. Hydration: Keeping ideas fresh and flowing is like staying hydrated during a run.
21. Elevation: Writing can take you to new heights, just like running in mountainous terrain.
22. Adaptation: Writers adapt to different genres, just as runners adapt to various terrains.
23. Warm Down: Editing and revising are like the cool-down after a race.
24. Mental Toughness: Writing, like running, requires mental resilience.
25. Personal Record: Writers aim to break their own records with each piece they write.
26. Starting Blocks: Research and preparation are like a runner's starting blocks.
27. Cool Down: Reflecting on your work is like a runner's cool-down jog.
28. Interval Training: Writing in bursts and editing in intervals is like interval training for runners.
29. Steady Pace: Consistency in writing is like maintaining a steady running pace.
30. Finisher's Medal: Publishing a book is akin to winning a race and receiving a medal.
31. Cross-Training: Exploring other creative pursuits can complement writing, much like cross-training benefits runners.
32. Runner's Stretch: Writers take breaks to prevent burnout, similar to runners stretching to avoid injury.
33. Pit Stops: Pausing to gather thoughts is like a runner taking pit stops during a long race.
34. The Zone: Writers enter "the zone" when they are completely absorbed in their work, like a runner in the flow.
35. Trail Running: Exploring different writing styles is like running on various types of trails.
36. Headwind: Facing criticism is like running into a headwind, challenging but surmountable.
37. Spectators: Readers are like spectators cheering for the writer's journey.
38. Starting Gun: Inspiration can strike like a starting gun, propelling you into writing mode.
39. Finish Chute: The final editing process is like the narrow finish chute of a race.
40. GPS: Outlining and planning are like using a GPS for your writing journey.
41. Medal Ceremony: Celebrating a writing achievement is like a podium ceremony.
42. In the Zone: Writers, like runners, perform at their best when fully immersed in their work.
43. Treadmill vs. Outdoor Running: Writing in isolation (treadmill) vs. experiencing life for inspiration (outdoor running).
44. Crossing the River: Editing can be compared to crossing a river by carefully stepping on stones.
45. Training Partners: Writers can find strength in writing groups, like runners benefit from training partners.
46. Runner's Journal: Keeping a writing journal is akin to a runner's training log.
47. Time Trials: Writers often test their abilities with writing challenges, much like runners in time trials.
48. Racing Shoes: The right tools, like a runner's shoes, can greatly impact the writing process.
49. Cool Breeze: Fresh ideas are like a cool breeze during a summer run, invigorating.
50. Falling and Getting Back Up: Both runners and writers face setbacks but must persist and keep moving forward.

These analogies showcase the parallels between the worlds of writing and running, illustrating the challenges, strategies, and joys common to both pursuits.

Keep writing, keep running.

​XO, 
Christie :)

More often than not, this is the definition most people associate with finishing a writing project. And rightly so, it’s a major accomplishment! So first off, congratulations! Yes, be sure to celebrate. But finishing the first draft of a writing project is just that – the FIRST draft. You’ll still need to revise it, edit it, submit it, edit it some more, publish it, and then finally promote it. ​

​It might be easy to think that it’s hard to write in the midst of turbulent times. The world is in turmoil with politics, wars, natural disasters, cancel culture, inflation, and everyone fighting on all sides for the things they think are important. There are so many things going on all around us that can make it easy to take our eyes off what’s truly important to each of us: family, health and wellbeing, friends, and safety. 

I like to think that our passions of writing and running are included as part of our wellbeing. But when times get turbulent, how do we keep our focus on the things that matter so we can stay productive? Rest. Rest can actually increase your productivity.

Ever had the flu? Most of us have. I remember the last time I had the flu. My body ached. I had cold chills and a high fever. I had congestion in my head and chest, my nose ran, and all I wanted to do was curl up in the bed and sleep. Like all day. I had no appetite. I thought about medicine and trying to get comfortable. I was like that for three whole days! But when I felt better, my mind went back to my to-do list and I actually had more energy to work on it and get things done. Rest is what rejuvenated me. I became more productive.

You’ve turned into an unproductive writer. You’ve been working on your novel for at least a year, but you still haven’t finished it yet. You’ve paused your writing for at least 3 months, but no new ideas have come to you. You’ve finished the first draft, but you have no idea how to revise it. You’ve been writing weekly for at least 6 months, but it feels sporadic and like you’re not gaining any traction. If any of these apply to you, then you’re probably stuck in the Unrested Writer Plateau. And if you’re experiencing any of these problems, then you’re likely making one of the following mistakes.

​You have this great idea for a book and you’ve even started writing it. But somewhere, somehow, you lost steam and it just doesn’t feel like it’s a priority right now. A family member is ill. Your job is demanding overtime. You said yes to organizing the church potluck. You volunteer at your kid’s school, or scouts, or the local food bank. Maybe your house flooded and you’ve got to deal with that. Something always happens that tends to take precedence over your writing dreams. Let me ask you a question. How important is your writing to you? 

How important is staying alive? You eat, right? Go to sleep at night, right? Make sure the bills are paid? The kids have food, clothing, and a house to live in, and you make them go to school, right? So beyond the basics, things get a little muddled. Priority means “the fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important” or “a thing that is regarded as more important than another”. Is your writing more important than your health or your family? Probably not. I ask you again: how important is your writing to you?

As a multi-passionate individual (hello, writing and running!), we have a tendency to take on a lot. We say YES to things at work, to book recommendations, to friends who want to go out, to family members who need help. Most humans feel bad about turning these offers down. Not to mention, every idea that crosses our mind, and every race we feel compelled to participate in. You might sometimes feel that you can’t do it all. But you can!

When you prioritize your passions, others will finally know that you don’t just enjoy them, but that they’re actually important to you. When something is important to you, you make it a priority. And that’s how you can have your cake and eat it too. You can’t really write and run at the same time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pursue both of your passions and have a life too.

Writing a novel isn’t easy, but the first draft is for you. You know it doesn’t have to be perfect, so why does it feel so hard to finish your manuscript? You just spent a long day at work and the last thing you want to do when you get home is to keep using your brain and think of clever things to write in your novel. 

You could get up early every morning and write for an hour, or 20 minutes. A lot of writers do this. But then when will you run? You relish your morning runs! You just want to finish your manuscript. You’ve already gotten seven chapters written – or 18… Where did the momentum go? Why do you feel stuck and unmotivated? Is it writer’s block?

The best way to finish your manuscript is to think about training for a race. When I ran my first 5k, the only training I had done was in my college jogging class. Race day came and people were walking faster than I was jogging! So a year later, with no other races under my belt, I wanted to run a marathon. You can call me crazy. It’s okay.

But this time, I was running with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Coach Scott created a training plan for everyone. Every Saturday, we ran on the Mountains-to-Sea trails to prep for our big marathon in Anchorage, Alaska. My first 4-mile training run was torture. It was the longest distance I had ever run before. But I finished. And I celebrated every small victory. Before long, I thought a 12-miler was easy. When race day came, I was ready. I ran (and walked) the whole race. It didn’t matter how long it took me – because I finished. That was my goal. To finish the race (or my manuscript).

I don’t want to see your half-finished novel shoved into a drawer never to be seen again. I don’t want you to feel like a failure. Giving up on your writing dreams is not an option. Your novel deserves to see the light of day. Imagine seeing your book on bookstore shelves, signing copies for your most loyal fans, and receiving emails about how much your readers loved your story. In order to get there, you have to finish your manuscript. Here are three ways to do that.

Schedule Your Writing Time
When I was training for my Alaska marathon, Saturdays were reserved for long runs. I ran 2-3 other days during the week, usually between 2-5 miles. You need to schedule your writing time like you would schedule your long runs.

Nothing bad had happened like a death in the family or Covid or loss of a job. But when the time came to go, I couldn’t. Why not? Because I never registered! What? Why wouldn’t I register if I love going to these conferences?

Well… when registration opened up, I procrastinated. I thought I’d register in a couple weeks. Then a couple months. Then when there was only one month left until each event, I still thought I would register, but the real reason I never got to go is because I didn’t properly plan financially for my writing obsession. So I came up with a plan to make sure that didn’t happen again. 

If you missed out on going to that conference or writing retreat you’ve had your eye on for so long because you didn’t have the money, here are 5 ways to fund your writing obsessions. Because let’s face it, we all want to become better writers and attending conferences and retreats is one of the best ways to improve our craft.

1. Save Up Your Money
Start saving your funds early. Calculate the cost of the event you want to attend and divide it by the number of months to save up and “tithe” to your writing fund. For example, if you’re wanting to attend a writing retreat that costs $2,525, if you save up just over $200 a month for a year, you’ll have the money to go!