What are you running from?

As you read the title of this blog, you may be thinking that there is about to be some sort of in depth psychological, brain melting, let me look into the deepest closets of your mind to see what are you hypothetically running from in life. Well...it's not. It is actually about running, the physical and literal, one foot in front of the other running. Before I was a runner I considered it a Medieval-type torture scheme cleverly disguised as "exercise." I am writing this blog to motivate myself to keep going. I am now in week 4 of a 16-week training schedule for the Cowtown Marathon in February 2012.

So, let me back up to April 2010 when I started running. I did not follow any program or any organized fitness plan. I just walked out the door and ran a half a mile out and then back. I am not knocking those programs or the people that do them, they work if you implement them correctly. I just didn't want to do them. I said I am going to run a mile and I did. It was painful. I couldn't control my breathing, my chest was on fire, and I thought I was going to literally faint or die...and that was at almost a 13 minute mile. So, guess what? I did it again, but each time I ran to that half mile marker I went a little further and then turned around, and so on.

Then in February of 2011, I ran my first marathon (26.2 miles). Wow! Is all I can say, but this blog is not about that. This blog is about why I love running. I use to HATE running and never could understand why anyone would willingly run without being chased...but then I ran.

I have not found a way to explain it, but I found something on another blog that I wanted to share. I haven't figured out how to link yet, but the blog is Oh She Glows. http://ohsheglows.com/2010/08/20/why-i-love-running/ Her readers have asked her how they can learn to enjoy running and she wrote this:

Have you cried on a run yet?”

“What? No!”

“Then keep running.”

“Have you gotten a shiver through your entire body on a run yet?”

“From the cold, you mean?”

“Keep running.”


After reading that I got chills, because nothing has ever compared to the feeling that running gives you, and I have jumped out of an airplane. So, I am going to attempt to list the reasons why I run...

1. Physical and mental health.
2. The time alone with God and His creation (especially at sunset).
3. The moments when you are doing distance running and when you stop, your legs give a little wobble and you can't help but smile.
4. The freedom you feel (especially knowing you could run to another town if you had to, lol).
5. The moments when you're running with the wind and it gives a little pick me up and you feel as if you actually flew a short distance.
6. For each milestone you reach in pushing your body that much further.
7. The mental strength you feel when your body is telling you stop, but you don't.
8. The times you overcome the tears at mile 20, then 22, then 24, lol.
9. The only time in life when a pebble is your enemy, but every other runner is your friend.
10. The camaraderie of runners and bystanders cheering you on.
11. The chills and goosebumps you get towards the end of a log run even though you're dripping sweat.
12. Because for that moment nothing else matters.
13. Because halfway into a run you would gladly welcome being rained on.

I actually have something I want to share on here related to running, but it will have to wait until after the 13th...Until then, just keep moving!

JT and I after Cowtown 2011