343: The Surprising Lessons I’m Learning from Training for a 10k

Funnily enough, this episode of The Crystal Paine Show was originally supposed to be about my 22-hour getaway with Jesse and then naturally became much more an episode about running and how I have been training for a 10k! Listen in as Jesse and I share how a two-week break from the podcast turned into a reflection on just how full life has been lately! From the chaos of baseball season to the unexpected intensity of my 10K training, things have truly been hectic. Between juggling travel ball schedules and long practices with Jesse and Silas, I have also been dealing with a completely new challenge for myself: running longer distances than I ever thought I could! What began as a simple goal has turned into a deep learning experience around pacing, breathing, fueling, and even rethinking how I understand my own body, and I talk openly in this episode of the show about how I’ve had to slow down, correct my breathing habits, and even explore things such as mouth taping after dealing with laryngitis and realizing how much my old habits were holding me back from my full potential.

I share how, as I have trained, I have been so surprised by how much running has changed not just my fitness but also my mindset. I am really learning that endurance is just as mental as it is physical and that sometimes finishing a run is less about speed and more about choosing to keep going one small step at a time. I also share how tools such as the RUNA app and Strava have helped me structure my training and actually understand what it means to train smart instead of just hard. It has been such a fascinating journey discovering firsthand how much strategy goes into something as simple as going for a run!

Beyond the physical side, I also reflect on what it means to take on something new in my forties and how running has unexpectedly opened up new ways of seeing my neighborhood, my routines, and even my own limits. From exploring unfamiliar streets to learning how to manage discomfort, this journey has become about more than just race day. It’s about growth, curiosity, and learning to trust myself in the process. Jesse and I also discuss how this experience connects to bigger life themes such as stepping into new and even initially uncomfortable challenges, embracing uncertainty, and letting our kids see us do hard things. I hope that you enjoy this episode, and, as always, please feel free to reach out with your thoughts! We would love to hear from you!

In This Episode

[0:35] - Baseball season overwhelmed our schedule, pausing the podcast temporarily.

[3:37] - Hear how training for a 10k has been exhausting but also has taught me pacing and breathing.

[6:02] - I talk about how running has also exposed poor breathing habits, leading to Laryngitis and a shift toward nasal breathing and better pacing.

[9:39] - I explain how mouth-taping has helped me retrain nasal breathing and has improved sleep and morning symptoms.

[12:01] - Jesse and I discuss how conscious nasal breathing improves congestion, sleep quality, and overall stress regulation.

[15:38] - I enthuse about how running has become transformative for me via consistency, endurance building, and mindful pacing over speed.

[18:09] - I reveal how the Runna app creates personalized training plans that highlight structured pacing and prevention of injury.

[19:32] - For me, running has become a deeply mental challenge where fueling, hydration, and self-talk determine whether I finish strong!

[22:07] - Jesse and I talk about how training beyond race distance helps build endurance, confidence, and better performance on the day of the race.

[25:12] - Hear how post-race plans will be decided later on but will focus on growth, exploration, and flexible running goals!

[28:11] - I reflect on how what began as a casual activity has turned into a truly meaningful way to explore surroundings and daily life more intentionally.

[30:28] - Jesse remarks that embracing uncertainty in challenges can be motivating, but lack of preparation can also cause setbacks.

[33:32] - Hear how race strategy focuses on maintaining a steady personal pace using training data and body awareness instead of competition.

[36:28] - My running journey has truly grown into a broader reflection on self-growth, balance, and learning to “run your own race.”

Links & Resources

Books

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor

Social Media