Growth Lessons from Running, Baking, and Going Easy

I never saw myself as a runner. But years ago, I started running—not for my body, but for my mind. In that sense, running and baking are moving meditations to me. The external world is on hold. Thoughts might begin to feel like a timelapse—I observe them, but I’m not part of them—until my mind quiets down and my senses take charge.

This year, I set a new goal with my running: to complete a half marathon. So, I started using the Nike app that coaches you while you run. And while the app offers “Guided Runs,” I can only remember them as “Guided Meditations”—though I know that’s not the traditional concept.

In this running world, there are so many techniques and ideas I’m learning that my brain is thrilled by the challenge. Today, I want to share a quote that really touched me. It’s so simple, yet so deep and complex. I love how wisdom often comes down to the simplest words:

“Easy is not a pace or a distance. Easy is an effort.” —Coach Bennett

It may sound like this is all about running, but if you’ve ever baked, started a business—or let’s be honest, started anything—you know it’s about so much more.

The Art of Going Easy

In a world that moves fast and makes us feel like we’re always behind—where success is often tied to speed and productivity—there’s something deeply healing about going easy. Not in the sense of “slacking off,” but in the sense of moving intentionally. Trusting the process. Taking action, yet understanding when it’s time to let things unfold in their own time.

That’s exactly what baking—especially sourdough—teaches me.

Dough needs rest. Fermentation needs patience. You can’t force flavor or structure.
Rush the process, and you end up with flat, overworked, or underdeveloped bread.

But when you understand and flow with the timing—by respecting it, working with it, not against it—when you stay consistent, you create something incredible.

Baking, Running, and Business: They All Have This in Common

Whether I’m tying my running shoes or prepping a batch of dough, I keep this reminder close:

Easy doesn’t mean lazy.
In fact, many times it takes more effort to go easy than to go full speed. Easy means intentional.

It’s the same in business and in life. When we push too hard, too fast, we burn out (or, if you’re a baker, you over-proof your dough!). But when we allow space for growth—when we show up with presence instead of pressure—we build something more sustainable. That’s true in the kitchen, in our relationships, and in our goals.

And it’s one of the lessons I carry from running into baking and back again.

So, What If We Let Things Rise at Their Own Pace?

Imagine what we could create if we let ourselves grow steadily and slowly.
If we trusted the “easy” effort—steady, intentional, grounded.
If we understood that those “easy” moments are there for a reason—and, among other things, they’ll allow us to speed up more consistently when the time comes.

We’d probably taste the difference.
We’d definitely feel it.

From My Kitchen to You

If you’ve been feeling rushed or overwhelmed, this is your gentle reminder:

Slow is not a setback.
Easy is not a weakness.
Growth requires both the fast and the slow. It takes time—and the best things always do.

So whether you’re working on a dream, kneading dough, or putting one foot in front of the other…

Trust the rise.With love (and a bit of flour),
Gabs

Baking teaches me to slow down and be present—it’s a form of mindfulness in action. If this resonates with you, I’ve shared more reflections in https://sweetlabbygabs.com/mindful-baking-how-being-hands-on-in-the-kitchen-can-have-therapeutic-benefits/