Hearing your stories: Shmuel Chaim Naiman
'Especially during stressful times — like what we've experienced in Israel over the past two years — running keeps me centered'
Morning, friends! ☀️ Remember the longtime Runner’s World columnist John Bingham, affectionately known as “the Penguin”? He had a saying I’ve never forgotten: that he was more interested in runners than in running itself.
Those words have echoed for me as I’ve read the stories you’ve shared with me, and which I’ve been sharing with all of you here these past few months. Every single one has moved me and shown me something new about this amazing community we’ve built here together over the years.
Today, we hear from longtime THM reader , who’s become someone I call a friend over the past year or two, as we’ve had a chance to correspond and talk by phone, even though he lives on the other side of the world from me, in Israel. (The world really is very small now, isn’t it?)
I know you’ll love Shmuel’s story as much as I did — and, if you feel inspired to share yours too, I’d love to hear it. All you need to is reply back by email or in the comments below, and we’ll go from there. — Terrell
So, let’s hear a little bit about you! Who are you, your age (if you’d like to share), where you’re from, what you do, etc.
I’m Shmuel Chaim Naiman, a 36-year-old Orthodox Jew originally from Baltimore, Md., now living in Israel with my wonderful wife Tamar and our children Avital (age 10), Eitan (3), and Achiya (1).
I work as a rabbi and spiritual mentor at the local Yeshivat Lev HaTorah, and as a foraging guide in the natural world of Israel. I’m also a certified health coach.
Over the years, I've developed a broad perspective on health and wellness, especially related to life in Israel. My interests include history, geography, hiking, archaeology, and foraging edible and medicinal plants.
Much of my work is under my Healthy Jew brand, which began here on Substack. I’m passionate about helping people integrate their spiritual lives with their physical experiences. Caring for our health — physically, mentally, and emotionally — isn't only essential for spirituality; it’s the starting point for all good choices.
Another core part of my identity is being a walker, hiker, and runner.
As I often say, the key to Healthy Jewish living is "moving from here to there" — journeying toward goals beyond today's reach. While this applies spiritually, it also begins literally: intentionally and effortfully walking, hiking, and running. The metaphor only holds meaning when grounded in physical movement.
What does your running routine look like? How many times a week, and how far do you run?
I run 5 kilometers once or twice a week. I consider myself a basic runner — committed but not extraordinary. I've tried longer and shorter distances, but I always come back to 5K.
It takes about half an hour, a perfect block of time to regularly invest in health, whether through running, meditation, or yoga. It shifts me from my comfort zone into my “effort zone” without consuming too much of my day.
Were you an athletic kid growing up? What are your early memories of what fitness and health were about?
I wasn’t athletic at all growing up — I was the town klutz, always chosen last for baseball and sent to “outer-outer” left field. My early memories of fitness aren’t particularly positive. But my parents — especially my mother — raised us with a strong emphasis on healthy living, which ultimately sparked my later interest in health and fitness.
How did you first get into running? Was there something that inspired you — like a performance at the Olympics, for example, or a runner you discovered by watching them on social media or TV? Or was there someone in your own life who inspired you to think, ‘maybe I can do this?’
Over a decade ago, during a prolonged personal crisis, a mentor suggested creating a plan for survival. A core part of that plan was taking a brisk 30-minute walk every day. The first weeks were tough — my legs ached terribly — but I quickly felt happier and more energetic. I stuck with it, and as my body strengthened, my mind and spirit followed.
After about a year of walking, I started running, which further increased my strength and stability. Running is immersive motion — transforming me physically into the "to" of the journey from "here to there."
Especially during stressful times — like what we've experienced in Israel over the past two years — running keeps me centered. I discuss this extensively in my recent book, Land of Health: Israel’s War for Wellness.
How has your interest in running evolved since then? Do you run farther, or faster now?
I reached 5K after about half a year, and that's been my standard ever since. Years ago, I occasionally finished under 25 minutes, and sometimes I wonder if I could do that again today. But I'm content with my usual 28 to 32 minute range. For me, running is more lifestyle than sport.
I put my more intense effort into hiking. I regularly set out into Israel’s mountains and fields, carrying full camping gear for three to four days, sometimes covering over 20 miles daily in temperatures above 90 degrees. I enjoy pushing myself in that way.
What do you balance your running with? Do you have a family to take care of? Kids, parents or other relatives or loved ones? If so, how do you balance all of it and still make time to run/care for yourself?
Great question! Yes, I have a busy family and work life, so I don't schedule a specific day or time for running. I simply ensure it happens at least once a week, usually after a decent night's sleep.
For example, last night we had fewer air-raid sirens than usual [this interview was recorded during the Israel-Iran war], so I slept nearly eight hours and plan to run this evening after grocery shopping.
Is there anything you’re especially proud of that you can point to your running and say, ‘this helped me achieve ______’?
It’s hard to pinpoint a specific achievement, but overall, running has greatly contributed to making me more functional and happier than I was as a teen or young adult. It significantly helps with my tendencies toward anxiety, obsessiveness, and frustration. Running also gives me more physical and emotional energy, strength, flexibility, and agility.
What have you learned about yourself from your running journey? Is there anything that’s changed about you since you started?
If I can run, anyone can. I'm not naturally athletic, but simply showing up consistently has had a powerful positive impact on my life.
Where would you like to go with your running? Is there anything special you’d like to achieve — like, say, running all six World Marathon Majors, or running an ultra?
Honestly, I don't even know what a World Marathon Major is. I've read Born to Run, so I’m familiar with ultras and respect people who do them — but they don't really interest me personally. If I can keep running 5K twice a week for life, I'll be happy. Maybe someday I'll push to 10K, but I'd first need a convincing reason.
What keeps you going? Especially if you’ve been running for a while — do you ever get bored with it? How do you find new things to motivate you, to keep you going?
Another good question. Running itself can sometimes feel boring, but the benefits are so immediate and meaningful that I keep going. If I haven't run in a while, I feel a restless tension that signals it’s time to get back out there.
I also find it helpful to approach running as a meditation. I don't listen to podcasts or music. I usually run alone, focusing on my breathing, the rhythm of motion, or the feeling of my feet on the ground. Staying fully present in the moment naturally works through feelings of boredom.
Look back at yourself when you were a kid, maybe say 10 years old. Remember how you felt, what you thought, especially what you thought you were capable of back then. If you could talk to that kid now, what would you say?
Hmm, this question is a bit uncomfortable; perhaps I still have work to do in therapy on that. But it does make me reflect on how far I've come. At age 10, I couldn't have imagined myself becoming a regular runner, or dedicating so much of my life to physical health and encouraging others along the same path.
Explore more from THM
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Thank you Terrell for inviting us to share our running stories, and for the warm introduction.
Finding you and your newsletter in my first month on Substack was such a gift, and a perfect example of the greatness of the community here.
It was great coming on to tell my running story, and I hope everyone finds it interesting and insightful.
Love this one. Thank you.