For the past two months, I’ve been learning Spanish during my training runs.
It started as an experiment to see if I could do something with the gobs of hands free time I have while running. I already run almost every day and generally it is for more than an hour. I basically spend what amounts to a part time job on the road grinding miles. Like a normal person, I enjoy listening to music and audiobooks. However, I have always wanted to learn to speak different languages. So I made time for it here.
I have started with Spanish and chatGPT recommended the audiobook “Paul Noble’s Learn Spanish for Beginners Complete Course”. While swapping my music for it was simple enough, I wasn’t prepared for how mentally demanding it would be. Unlike music or novels that let my mind drift and relax, learning a new language requires a lot more attention. On my first few runs, I definitely felt hugely distracted; I almost side wiped a mailbox once. I got used to it but then found that I could only effectively listen for about 40 minutes. Then I would hit my mental limit and need to switch back to music. Also every third or fourth day, I would need to take a Spanish rest day to give my brain a break.
With that routine, I feel I’ve made some real progress. Repetition is essential; I often have to re-listen to chapters to make sure I absorbed the material. I’m nearly through this audiobook and I plan to start Paul’s second right after it. I’ve also been able to work my way up to listening for entire runs now. I still need my mental rest days though.
Why Spanish matters to me
This isn’t just about checking off a goal. I’ve always wanted to become conversational in several languages because I like to travel to countries where English isn’t the first language. I love travel but I also want to be respectful of the people who live in the places I visit. I want to connect to these places and I have always felt that language was core to that.
What I like most about having language as apart of my running is that I’ve reclaimed time. For a while, I have known that I was taking giant mental breaks during my runs. I was honestly loving that about my long runs. I looked forward to zoning out to a novel or music while grinding miles. I still enjoy those things and there is real value in having those mental breaks. However, I also knew that time was prime to be used for something that better aligned with my personal vision. It was a sacrifice and tough but now I’m using it for something that matters to me.
What comes next
My first big milestone will be watching shows and movies in Spanish while I’m grinding on the treadmill this winter or crafting in the evenings. If I can follow along, even loosely, I’ll know it is working.
After that I’ll look for someone to practice with online. I already know that my pronunciation needs some serious work; I’ve tried some of my Spanish out on one of my friends and she bursted out laughing but hey, it’s a start. I’m not waiting until everything is perfect. I’m just committing to a new process, a new grind, and making space for something that aligns with my vision.
Turn mental drift into growth
If you want to build something new into your life, like learning a language, you need to make time for it. The best way to do that is by finding the time you’re just giving away. Here’s generally what I do:
Step 1: Identify activities where your mind zones out
So for me that was running. When I started grinding miles, I would just zone out to music or an audiobook. I also did that while doing chores, yard work, or driving. These were spaces that I was using to give myself mental breaks and that’s not wrong. However, that is the time that is up for grabs.
Step 2: Choose something to learn that aligns with your vision
That is key. It can’t just be something that sounds cool or interesting. It must be part of how you see your future self, your personal vision. For me, it is being able to connect more deeply with people when I travel and that means speaking in their language. By working towards your personally vision, it’s easier to stay committed and be okay with sacrificing things that don’t align.
Step 3: Commit and be patient
You’re retraining your brain. That doesn’t happen overnight. You’ll get distracted. Trust me that my shoulder demon was screaming at me and I wanted to default back to zoning out to music. That’s normal however you got to push through it and keep going. Show up for yourself multiple times a week. It is okay if a chapter does not stick, just listen to it again. Repeat it until it finally sticks and then move on. Results are not immediate but if you stay with it, you will see them.
Growth doesn’t always have to come from big changes. It can come from the time where you already are doing something productive but are also mentally drifting. You just have to choose to use it differently and grind on top of the grind.
Push Pace 