Subtitle:
The Process
Introduction
Posted on October 9, 2026
By Olivia Baker
"Control what you can control." "Trust the process." "Keep your
mind where your feet are." If you grew up in any sport, you have probably heard
one or all of these quotes from a coach, mentor or teammate about executing a
daily process instead of constantly focusing on an outcome. While it is
important to keep the end goal in mind, making it the focal point risks missing
out on the little ways we can get better every day in favor of a result that is
ultimately outside of our control. Whether you run the 100m, marathon or
anything in between, the race itself is only one moment at the end of a much
longer journey of preparation, and while the moment makes the memory, the
essence of life is in the process. It is the process that makes us and breaks
us, builds character and teaches discipline, and at the end of the day shapes
us into who we are becoming regardless of the results along the way.
I chose For the Love of the Grind by Sara Hall for the 27th installment of Runners Who Read for everyone who loves the process just as much as the outcome. As we enter marathon season, cross country season, fall training season or just good running weather season (for those of us here in Atlanta), I think this is a good time to revisit the value of creating solid process-oriented goals, and what better way than through the lens of someone who has been elite at every level, such as Sara Hall. From high school all the way up through the professional ranks, and at distances from the mile to the marathon, Sara is one of the rare athletes who has been globally competitive across such range and longevity. Through the highs, lows, improvements and plateaus that built the resilience to put together the long and successful career to this day, we'll read what boils down to a beautiful reflection on what it means to simply keep showing up to the grind every day for a long time. For everyone who has an unbridled love of exploring their limits, who runs in pursuit of excellence and not just results, and who just keeps putting one foot in front of the other for the love of the grind, this one's for you. May we all be motivated to keep going, focus on our daily goals and learn to embrace the process in new ways as we read this book.
Discussion Questions:
- What is one goal (in running or
in life) that you are building towards this fall? What are some of your
process goals along the way?
- What
are you most looking forward to learning about from this book?