The Lost Art of Being a Rookie

How Maintaining a Beginner's Mind Enhances Your Running Life

The Runner's Rookie Mind

One of the best decisions I made in my early years as a runner was willingly embracing the role of beginner, rookie, padawan.

I wasn't too proud to ask "stupid" questions — and I asked many. I was forgiving with myself when I made mistakes. And I existed in a constant Alice in Wonderland state of mind as I discovered new aspects of the running world or tried something for the first time. This happened almost daily.

Showing yourself as a beginner isn't something to be taken for granted. Our culture celebrates experienced individuals and professionals who receive great recognition. Beginners are expected to strive toward becoming experts as quickly as possible to shed the beginner label. Not knowing what you're doing is often viewed as a weakness rather than an opportunity.

(How to properly pace a marathon? I have no idea)

The Hidden Advantages of Inexperience

But the beginner's role carries many advantages. For one, there's no need to pretend. When speaking with more experienced runners, there's no expectation or competitive pressure. You're openly accepted as "the newcomer" and gradually initiated into the secrets of the running world — at least when you surround yourself with good people.

You also have time on your side. When you see and describe yourself as a beginner, it doesn't matter when you run your first marathon, first ultra, or compete in your first track event. Everything happens in its own time. There's no pressure to "play through" running in a few years or even months. A phenomenon I've witnessed countless times during my 11 years in the sport.

Celebrating Your Running Firsts

Even after reaching major milestones, like completing your first marathon or ultratrail, there are always more carrots dangling ahead, motivating you to try and discover new things — to feel like a beginner again. I'm not just thinking in terms of distances and elevation gain. "First times" also come with relay races, backyard ultras, night running, charity projects, 100 km training weeks (or 100 miles training weeks, for that matter), Everestings, FKT (Fastest Known Times) attempts, or beer miles.

Stepping back into the role of the inexperienced beginner with each new "first" gives these moments a magical quality and allows for an unburdened, almost childlike approach. Consciously embracing these experiences creates beautiful, profound memories that last a lifetime.

(How to deal with heat races? I have no idea)

When Others Start Looking to You

Eventually, you grow out of the beginner role. Unfortunately, I must say. For me, it was a gradual process, with the external perception of me changing more than my own self-image. People I once asked for advice eventually started asking me for guidance. My seventh time became someone else's first time.

Suddenly, I'm being asked if I could create training plans for others with my "vast experience" (their perception, not mine). Thanks to my book "Runhundred," I'm suddenly considered an expert on the Western States 100, even though I've only run it once, unlike some ultrarunning icons who've completed it multiple times. All this flatters me, and I wholeheartedly share everything I've experienced and learned. But sometimes I miss those carefree moments when I was fully in the role of a beginner.

Reclaiming Your Beginner's Spirit

Those magical running moments characterized by childlike naivety still exist. Often in small, hidden ways, but occasionally, you get the chance to take on the role of complete novice again. If you're willing to embrace it, of course.

I remember several strength exercises my physical therapist prescribed during my knee rehabilitation. Some I had simply never done before. I could have pretended to know what she was talking about, but I didn't. I asked her to demonstrate the exercises and followed along like a complete beginner.

Or when my coach Karim recently wrote mountain intervals into my training plan ("flat" doesn't exist in my new home). Instead of just wildly running off, I told him I'd never done this before and asked if he had any tips.

The same applies to breathing. Yes, breathing. I'm a complete novice when it comes to proper breathing technique. It never bothered me much, but my last two performance diagnostics revealed that I hyperventilate when running at certain intensity levels. I don't breathe deeply enough to expel all CO2 and take in sufficient oxygen, so I unnaturally increase my breathing frequency. Probably damage from my COVID infection.

In this case too, Karim showed me how to breathe diaphragmatically, also known as belly breathing. Now I practice diligently like an elementary school student in remedial lessons.

What else do I envision for the future? I haven't run a 100-meter sprint since school, where I wasn't a runner but was forced to participate in national youth games. A 100-meter race... Does something like that even exist in the 40+ age group? I'd love to try that!

(10 x 5 kilometers equals…. I have no idea)

The Runner's Path of Beginning Again

Perhaps the greatest wisdom in running — and in life — is recognizing that we're all beginners at something. Even after years of experience, there are always new things to learn, new endeavors to attempt, and new ways to challenge ourselves.

Our culture may elevate experts and professionals, but the true richness of experience comes from maintaining a beginner's mindset. There's unique freedom in admitting "I don't know," a special joy in learning something for the first time, and a profound connection that only forms when we share our vulnerable learning moments with others.

The next time you find yourself hesitating to try something new because you won't immediately excel, remember: every expert was once a beginner, but not every beginner needs to become an expert. Sometimes, the journey of learning itself is the greatest reward.

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Everything Not Running

My last week's “The Digital Treadmill” Das Z Letter made it into the mass media. The lovely people at Alles-Laufbar.de picked up on the article and published a German version of it on their online portal. That's cool.

The article caused quite a stir. I got a lot of feedback, which makes me happy. But most of all, I am glad that the article was not perceived as a top-down know-it-all, but that it is clear that I am also describing my own personal struggle with the social web.

And I firmly believe that we can do better. Let’s read it again.

The Digital Treadmill

You should also check out

Brittany Vermeer

’s super cool article "Running For Kudos". In it, she looks at a scientific study aptly titled "If It's not on Strava it Didn't Happen".

Running for Kudos: The Double-Edged Sword of Strava's Influence

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On Repeat

This week's cover song! "Weeds" was originally by Life of Agony, a band for whom one could create a separate On Repeat section, even if singer Keith-Mina Caputo has recently strayed a bit into unpleasantly reactionary alt-right territory. Well. Of course, this casts a certain grey veil over the more than impressive artistic work that Life of Agony has created, especially the over-cult album "River Runs Red".

In this case, however, we are talking about the track "Weeds", which can be found on Life of Agony's third album "Soul Searching Sun". A flawless, endlessly rousing rock song. The line:

"And I don't know why I keep searching for something that I never found"

will give me goosebumps for the next 100 years.

American hardcore band CRUEL HAND have taken on the track, and even if you say that you can only make a song worse by covering it, that definitely doesn't apply to Cruel Hand's version. Cruel Hand have not only managed to preserve the melancholic, driving vibe of the original version of the song, but have also given it their own spin. Just fantastic!

Das Z [+] Letter is for You!

I would also like to introduce you to what, I think, is a great idea: subscribing to Das Z [+] Letter and supporting me and my writing beyond all measure. In addition to exclusive bonus articles in two languages, there is also a Willpower voucher and endless gratitude. In the coming days there will be two excellent articles that are well worth reading. In the meantime, you can warm up by reading my previous articles. Here is a selection:

[+] Running is Work

[+] Solitude – About Running Alone

[+] Unison – About Running Together

[+] I have no choice. I must run.

[+] Running Through Shame

Thank You.