An Analysis Of Even When It's Hard To Run, You Should Run By Ali Nolan

Ali Nolan argues, in “Even When It’s Hard to Run, You Should Run”, that running may seem like a hassle at first glance, but in actuality running improves lives in various ways. Sometimes the time to start running doesn’t seem right or even possible, however an individual needs to make time for it. Contrary to the belief of most inactive people, running actually helps you cope with a busy schedule and is an incredible stress reliever. Nolan is a epitome of this argument because she has a chaotic life, yet she still finds time to train and complete a 20-miler. The usage of pathos, metaphorical language, imagery, and first person, aids the reader in comprehending her viewpoint. Nolan gives vivid descriptions of the challenges she faced and overcame

She motivates her audience, saying, “and that run-which felt impossible at the beginning, even harder in the middle, but gradually got better-seemed to be a metaphor for the whole training cycle” (Nolan 2). Throughout the article, she compares running to various things such as an item on a checklist, a prayer, or therapy. This deeper explanation of her argument helps the reader comprehend her ideas and thoughts. An individual cannot fully agree with an author’s argument or opinion until he or she completely understand the argument being presented. So relating running to other activities that occur to people on a daily basis allows the reader to understand and connect with the author’s point of view. Some of the authors metaphors even use pathos in order to more deeply impact the reader’s thought and it creates an emotional uplifting effect. In order to prove her point she continually relies on a metaphorical language to help the reader interpret her thoughts of

She says “I” throughout the entire article. As a reader, I trusted her argument and opinion because I knew she had been through the experience. Since the author felt so compelled to share such an emotional story, I felt as though I could really open up to her and allow her words to affect me. “I”, allows me to develop a deeper connection with Nolan and makes her story even more emotionally connectable. Instead of sharing a random or stranger’s story, she choose to share her own so that the audience feels closer to her. When a person says “I”, they open up a piece of themselves to another individual. Since the author was brave enough to share her emotional story with me, I felt compelled to fully hear out her argument. Pathos and first person makes the reader more vulnerable or easily swayed into the author’s opinion because he or she is emotionally affected by the story. “Running did not get easier, but I grew stronger”, she claims. By using “I” in this statement, her statement becomes more powerful. First person allows the author’s audience to become more attached to the argument, grabs their attention, and makes them trust in the author's argument. Once the reader can trust or connect with the author, he or she is more likely to agree with the author’s point that running is