Sheehan Mode, Engage
I can’t remember which came first: "Back to the Future" or "‘56 Fantasy." You’ve probably never heard of the second one. It was not widely distributed.
At ten or eleven years-old, I wrote and illustrated ‘56 Fantasy on plain white sketch paper folded in half and stapled at the “spine.”
It’s the story of a kid (presumably also ten or eleven) who, while playing make-believe road trip in his dad’s 1956 Chevy, was blasted back in time to—get this—1956, where he met his old man as a kid.
The little handmade book probably sits in a drawer in my parents’ house with a dozen others because, looking back, I’ve always been a writer.
It’s like this, see:
I grew up sensing that a part of me was faking being a child; I felt I was already an old soul. Lots of people feel that, particularly those who will go on to become writers.
~ Phillip Lopate
Anyway, here I am, forty later, ready to settle into what I’ve always been.
Manifesting Destiny
I don’t really think we can steer our futures just by believing hard enough. But I do think clarifying our goals nudges us in the direction we want to move, and strategically-stuck sticky notes remind us to work.
A couple months ago, I wrote about my ultimate goal, then hung some specific targets on our fridge. You might spot my time goal for Don’t Fence Me In, too. And yeah, I have a dentist appointment on July 8. Don’t let me forget.
But there on the big sheet of paper, those are the goals we’re talking about:
2024: 200 subscribers, 1 book proposal, something self-published
2025: 1,000 subscribers, 2 book proposals, 2 things self-published
2026: 5,000 subs, 2 proposals, 2 self-published
It continues like this through 2028, at which time I should be ready to transition to Sheehan Mode, propped up at an old typewriter in my running tights. I’ll state it plainly, for the record:
In five years, I want to be writing about running for you full time.
Shall we do this thing?
A Diving-In Platform
As a writer, Substack has been a joy to use. Barriers to entry are low and there’s lots of room to experiment. It helps me get out of my own way and make stuff.
The platform offers a straight-forward way to connect with and receive consideration from an audience. It’s just you and me here, chopping it up about life and running. If you enjoy the stuff, you can subscribe. If you really enjoy it, you can buy me a coffee.
That last part is where “paid subscriptions” come in.
Running Lightly aims to help people—as many people as possible—create sustainable, joyful running practices built on curiosity and connection to a shared culture.
The numbers on the fridge keep me focused on that promise. Early on, I decided to introduce a paid option when I hit 100 subscribers.
Here we are. Thank you.
Three Ways to Support
‘56 Fantasy, a runner-up entry in my grade school VFW essay contest, personal blogs I definitely won’t be sharing the URLs of… They were leading to this.
Running Lightly is all at once a culmination and a beginning.
On one hand, it feels like play. But it’s also a great deal of work, and if I’m ever to get to Sheehan Mode, there’s lots more of that ahead.
To support the work, I’m offering three levels of subscriptions…
Free: There will always be free content here. In fact, for the “launch month” of June, 2024, everything will be free. After that, you’ll get access to occasional public posts, plus “Wrapped,” a digest of everything we publish
Paid ($5/month or $50/year): Access to all articles, journals, and digests, plus “Curated,” a best-of-the-web newsletter launching soon. Paid subscribers will also get occasional gifts and discounts on merch
Founding Hundred ($100/year), limited to 100 people: Everything in paid, plus 100 words on the “Founders” page for anything you want, and twice-yearly chats with me to talk running, mindfulness, sobriety, or other Running Lightly topics
Full disclosure: I plan to take up to four weeks off each year to recharge my creative batteries. I’ll pause payments during these breaks.
The Finish Line
As the self-imposed 100 subscriber milestone neared, I was wracked with anxiety. I thought I needed to have everything figured out before flipping the switch that enables paid subscriptions. Writing this article has been clarifying and comforting.
Typing my way through the fog, I see we can navigate the process together, improving both the stuff I write, and your experience as a subscriber over time.
Whatever subscription option you choose, I hope you’ll continue to find value in the content and contribute your thoughts. Watch for more community features soon. In the meantime, will you answer a few questions before signing off?
Thank you for your interest in this project. I’m giddy with possibility.
Run lightly,
-mike
Running Lightly is building a community interested in the soul beneath the surface.