Why Do I Run
Running is hard. It's time-consuming. At times, it can be humbling. Often, there's a lot of physical pain that goes with it. Why do I run? Why don't you? This is a very basic question that has as many answers as there are runners. I asked an old friend (and ex-girlfriend), Shela, that question. I would like to hear your reasons why you run, so, click on the comment button and tell me. In her own words:
"When asked why I run, my response is sometimes different depending on who is asking and why. When asked with such disdain, “So, why DO you run”? I respond, “Because I can”. Or, “Because I am 45 years old, have three grown children and can still wear a size 6”. That’s right. It pretty much allows me to eat whatever I want. Seriously though, because I was for ten years a single mother raising three extremely active daughters, I needed something that enabled me to create and sustain a kind of energy allowing me to keep up with the darlings.
You know, the more I do, the more I can do. Running is affordable and it can be done just about anytime, anywhere. I have run from home, work, softball fields, soccer fields, parks, trails and city streets, in town and out of town, 5:30 in the morning, at noon and at night, in the heat, wind, rain and snow. Shoes, that’s really all I need, no fancy running gear, just shoes. Is running addictive? I don’t know, but, for me, with a little self-motivation, it became habit forming.
To leave out the door for a run I more or less would rather skip because I’m tired or feel like there are a million and one other things I should be doing, but then return from that run having gone even further than intended and having run faster than I would have thought possible is rewarding and empowering. No one can take this away from me.
There are a number of reasons why my sport or activity of choice is running, but, I have always known there is more to life than running. Running along with working, playing, eating, sleeping is an integral part of my life and will be always."
"When asked why I run, my response is sometimes different depending on who is asking and why. When asked with such disdain, “So, why DO you run”? I respond, “Because I can”. Or, “Because I am 45 years old, have three grown children and can still wear a size 6”. That’s right. It pretty much allows me to eat whatever I want. Seriously though, because I was for ten years a single mother raising three extremely active daughters, I needed something that enabled me to create and sustain a kind of energy allowing me to keep up with the darlings.
You know, the more I do, the more I can do. Running is affordable and it can be done just about anytime, anywhere. I have run from home, work, softball fields, soccer fields, parks, trails and city streets, in town and out of town, 5:30 in the morning, at noon and at night, in the heat, wind, rain and snow. Shoes, that’s really all I need, no fancy running gear, just shoes. Is running addictive? I don’t know, but, for me, with a little self-motivation, it became habit forming.
To leave out the door for a run I more or less would rather skip because I’m tired or feel like there are a million and one other things I should be doing, but then return from that run having gone even further than intended and having run faster than I would have thought possible is rewarding and empowering. No one can take this away from me.
There are a number of reasons why my sport or activity of choice is running, but, I have always known there is more to life than running. Running along with working, playing, eating, sleeping is an integral part of my life and will be always."
posted by kcrunner at 1:11 PM
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