At the beginning of the summer I had the brilliant idea of running a 5K with some friends from college.

Last summer, my cousin asked me to do the same thing and I blew her off because running seemed pointlessly miserable to me.

Running still seems pointlessly miserable to me, but for some reason I decided this was a good idea this time. Boredom, I suppose. And all the extra weight I usually put on when I’m not working full time.

Running is like personal finance because sometimes you need to be invited to get started over and over again before taking the first step.

I started out with absolutely no idea what I was doing, but the important thing was that I took the first step. I wouldn’t be able to run as far as I can now (which is honestly still a little pitiful), if I hadn’t just shut up, laced up and started moving.

Running is like personal finance because it all starts with one small step – whether it’s trying (and failing) to run for a minute and thirty seconds straight or trying (and failing) to stick to your first budget. You still have to try.

I needed a little help getting started because I had no idea what I was doing. Do you just leap out onto the road and go? I suppose you can and there are probably some people who did and succeeded that way. I wasn’t going to be one of them. I downloaded a coaching app for $1.99 called Couch to 5K that I’ve been using all summer.

When I started getting my finances in order, it all began with a book called Money Girl’s Smart Moves to Grow Rich. I devoured that book and started laying out my budget and net worth statements based on it.

Running is like personal finance because you might need some coaching to get started.

I’m a big fan of waiting until I’m really committed to a new hobby before investing in it, but I quickly realized that with running, it’s a good idea to spend a little on a few things – especially when the amount I was paying for blister pads and band-aids started to rack up quickly because I was wearing entirely the wrong shoes.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have the fanciest of anything, but a good, sturdy pair of running shoes, socks that don’t slip, a good running bra, and one of those arm bands to shove my phone in were worth every penny.

Sometimes personal finance requires investment as well – whether it’s in books or courses to teach you more (although check your library first!), working with a financial planner or purchasing You Need a Budget.

Running is like personal finance because paying for the right supplies earlier in the game can make the entire situation a lot less painful.

But speaking of pain, sometimes the whole thing is just painful. I remember struggling like my lungs were going to explode the first few weeks and the first day I ran without feeling like that, it lasted for about 6 seconds before I realized that my legs were on fire and felt like lead and really I just wanted to curl up and die.

My finances can be pretty similar. I struggle along, buckled down and paying off debt, and as soon as I have 6 seconds of feeling like I’m finally ahead of the game, I realize that I need to work just as hard at saving if I ever want to own a house or retire.

Running is like personal finance because you just have to keep moving through the discomfort.

However, there’s a difference between discomfort and getting hurt. I have a pretty messed up knee from a high school skiing accident. You know who knows when I’ve messed it up again? Me. I mean, others will eventually see the swelling, but it’s me who can feel the moment it pops the wrong way. So while I may look like I’m being super lazy to someone on the treadmill next to me, in reality, I may be recovering from hurting it again and the absolute most I can do is slowly walk a mile that day.

Personal finance is personal for a reason. Someone who doesn’t understand your goals might wonder why you prioritize your spending and saving the way you do, but at the end of the day, it’s only you (and maybe a spouse) who know when you’ve crossed from discomfort into a zone too painful to continue in.

Running is like personal finance because only you know your own limits.

Check out How Running is Like Personal Finance – Part II here and Part III here.

Wish me luck on the final few days of training! We run on Saturday and I’m a still few minutes short of making the whole 5K… but I think I’ll get there!