Why I Run

Some days by the time I get home from work I just don’t want to go back out and run.  Especially when it’s cold or windy, or I’m tired.  Most days I still begrudgingly put on my running clothes, tie my shoes, shuffle to the end of the driveway, and start running.  Inevitably, about two miles in I am always glad that I made myself go.  I would love to be able to get up in the morning and run.  I find that running in the morning makes the dark circles under my eyes go away – increased blood flow and all.  But there’s something about an afternoon run that helps to clear my mind of all the stresses of the day.

Some of my best ideas come while I’m running, although many times by the time I’ve made it home I’ve forgotten them!  I suppose I could try running with a notepad.  While I run, I think about why I run.  Mainly, I run because I love to eat.  I love to eat more than I love to run, although running allows me to eat pretty much anything I want, so maybe it’s a draw.  I find dieting impossible.  I can’t resist cookies, cakes, ice cream or any other tasty treats.  I also love pasta and bread.  Running is the only exercise that keeps me from getting to be the size of a house.  Running has helped get me through some difficult times.  I have often taken solace in the sound of my feet pounding the pavement, my thoughts rattling around in my head.

Last week I ran 35 miles in seven days.  That was the highest number of miles I have ever run in a given week.  While I was proud of myself, at the end of the week, I was tired, run down, and feeling burned out.  And it’s still eight more weeks to the half-marathon.  I took three days off, and had a great run yesterday.  However, there is no way that I will be able to get in all of this week’s miles.  As I took off this afternoon, I was wondering what my coach would say about my slacking off this week.

I was thinking of what my explanation would be, when I realized that I run for me.  I run because I enjoy it (most days).  I run to stay fit and healthy.  I run because of how it makes me feel.  Yes, I enjoy training for races and pushing myself to beat my previous times.  But that’s not the main reason I run.  I do it because I want to.  And if that means I need to take a few days off for my own mental and physical health, that’s OK.  The world won’t end if I don’t run 36 miles in 6 days this week.  I will still have a good race time if I take a few days off.

I’m not going to worry about what my coach thinks about this week’s training.  Life will go on.  And I will continue to run because I like to, because it is exhilarating, and because I want to – not because someone tells me that I have to.  Why do I run?  I run for me.