Running · by Anna Gruber · 2026-09-11

A gentle rant about shoes and expectations from my lunch break notes

I tried this in São Paulo with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.

I had a disappointing first try, a surprisingly good second try, and then a third attempt that taught me humility. So, naturally, I now have opinions.

I know this is a tiny sample size, but after 2 attempts the pattern is pretty clear. When I keep the setup simple, I actually follow through.

20 sparks · 9 comments

Comments

Maya Putri · 2 likes

This is useful for some cases, but terrible advice if the stakes are high.

Mariana Costa · 1 likes

Interesting. I would like to see how it changes after 2 months. It reminds me of a very specific conversation near a coworking table.

Anna Gruber · 1 likes

@orbitNomad97 Can you expand on that a bit?

Kabir Khan · 0 likes

Helpful correction.

Gentle Marauder · 1 likes

Wonderful detail. It makes the whole thing feel real.

Tomás Gómez · 1 likes

Glad you shared it; small wins count. The Jakarta example makes it feel concrete.

Amelia Hughes · 1 likes

Amazing how much difference one small change can make. I would write it down before changing anything else. This is kinder advice than most of the internet manages.

Kabir Khan · 0 likes

Interesting. I would like to see how it changes after 3 months. That is the kind of detail beginners miss.

Camille Dubois · 1 likes

Exactly; the hidden cost is energy.