Running and Reading, Not So Very Different

I’ll be the first to confess that I’m not a runner.  I used to say that I only ran when something was chasing me, but I’ve learned over the years that running is a really great workout and it’s one of the ways that I set fitness goals for myself.  So yesterday as I did my last training run for my very first 10k, I realized that I am a runner. I was actually thinking thoughts other than, ”When is this going to be over?” And I came to a great realization, running and reading are very similar.
I say, I’m not a runner and I see kids on regular basis that tell me they are not readers. It took me a lot of practice, hard work, and dedication to run well and it’s the same with reading. Reading doesn’t come automatically, kids need to practice and work hard to become good readers. I had to find running paths that were interesting for me to run, not too difficult, but something that challenged me.  Readers are the same, they need to find books that interest them, that’s not too hard and not too easy. And there are times I revert back to a short run on a treadmill because sometimes it’s easier, and that’s just what kids do with books. They read for fun – easy books that aren’t always at their reading level.
So, I guess what I’m saying is, is that reading and running are very similar and I’m lucky enough to be a coach or mentor to kids to enlighten them as to how great reading can be, just like my friends and family are for my running. What is something new you’ve tried or something you’ve struggled with that is similar to reading?