On running & growth
In 2024 I started taking my fitness seriously for the first time in my life, and was stunned to find that I loved running. Losing myself in the sounds of one foot falling after the other, one breath after the other — it's intoxicating.
I also loved the tangible sense of progress. I didn't believe I was capable of running, so every new PB — a mile further than I'd ever gone, a finish two minutes faster than I'd ever managed — lit me up.
It still does. As of yesterday, I'm averaging 3.1 miles a day in February (a 5k every day!!!), way ahead of where I was last February.
I know this because I made an app, Year Over Year, that measures my health & fitness data so I can see my progress against last year:
Apple Health and Apple Fitness have a ton of data, and I open those apps nearly every day, but they don’t give you an easy way to see how your progress this month compares with the same month last year.
And that matters. Because fitness is seasonal! February isn’t the same as May. Spring and Fall are race peaking months. Winter miles are slow and plodding.
So stop comparing apples to oranges. Compare apples to apples, see your progress over time, and see what you’re capable of.
All you need to do is:
- Download the app
- Connect to Apple Health, and
- Measure your progress -- Year Over Year