SHOW NOTES
Episode 25 Kinda Hard, Kinda Worth It: 6 Reasons You Can Keep Running Anyway
New episode every Friday | Powered by Upward Running | Where Faith and Fitness Meet
Welcome to Episode 25 of the Kinda Fast Podcast, where Claire and Travis talk running, real life, faith, and everything in between. This week’s conversation centers on a truth every runner knows. Running is hard. And somehow, it is still worth it.
From overlooked training tools to elite race performances to honest reflections inside the pain cave, this episode is equal parts encouragement and reality check for runners at every stage.
In This Episode
- What Does That Even Mean? Strides explained and why they matter more than most runners think.
- Running News: Historic performances at the California International Marathon and a surprising marathon result from Courtney Dauwalter.
- Deep Dive: Six reasons running feels hard and why runners keep showing up anyway.
- Community Update: Exciting news for anyone who has ever thought about running a marathon someday.
What Does That Even Mean? Strides
Strides are short, controlled accelerations typically done after easy runs. Claire and Travis explain what strides are, how to do them correctly, and why they are one of the simplest and most overlooked tools for building speed, efficiency, and confidence.
Running News
- 🏁 California International Marathon: CIM delivers historic depth at the U.S. Marathon Championships, including major Olympic Trials qualifiers and standout performances from Molly Born and Sara Hall.
- 🔥 Courtney Dauwalter: Courtney shocks the road-running world with an 11-minute marathon personal record and shares one of the most honest reflections yet from inside the pain cave.
Deep Dive Six Reasons Running Feels Hard
- Slow progress that tests patience
- Motivation that fades over time
- Comparison traps that steal joy
- Weak days that feel discouraging
- Quiet growth that goes unnoticed
- The finish line that hurts but changes everything
This conversation is a reminder that the hard parts do not disqualify you. They shape you. Growth often happens long before it shows up on the clock.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
- What strides are and how to add them safely to your training
- Why CIM remains a premier U.S. marathon for fast times and qualifiers
- How Courtney Dauwalter proved the pain cave applies on the roads too
- Why progress often happens quietly before results appear
- The difference between motivation and discipline
- How comparison steals joy and how to stop it
- Why weak runs still count
- What the finish line teaches long after the race is over
Who This Episode Is For
- Beginner runners wondering if running ever gets easier
- Runners feeling slow, behind, or discouraged
- Athletes stuck comparing their journey to others
- Anyone training for a goal that feels intimidating
- Faith-driven runners seeking purpose beyond performance
- Runners who need encouragement, honesty, and perspective
- Anyone who has crossed a finish line hurting and smiling
- Literally anyone ever
Learn More and Join the Community
Visit upwardrunning.com/kindafast and use code KINDAFAST for two weeks free inside the RunClub App.
New episodes drop every Friday covering training, real life, faith, community, and everything that happens between the start line and the finish.