• Why I run

    Date: 2008.08.14 | Category: running, Uncategorized | Tags:

    I rarely think about why I run. Normally the questions are when, where, and how long.

    It started in high school. My older brothers were in cross country and track. I think I envied that. At night in high school I started running. My main objective was to see how far I could keep running. The distance I could go began to grow. But it didn’t become a habit. Another part of the reason was that I felt I needed to lose weight.

    At college, I got into it more often, especially after break-ups. Maybe during those times I needed an outlet for the emotions. Part of it was feeling like I needed to get in shape and that now was the time… It probably says something about me but I truly haven’t figured that all out. All I know is that right before law school started I really got into it. During my first year in law school I put it to the side and for the remainder of law school to today I haven’t taken a long-term break from it. And this is why:

    1. I want to get faster/ stronger / run farther, and push myself. I remember the first time I ran seven miles. I thought it was so huge. I felt great, and like I had accomplished something I never thought I could do before. It just gives you a sense of pride knowing that you pushed yourself and you achieved more than you thought you could.

    2. Most of the time I feel better afterwards. My mind wakes up after a run. My mood is better. If my stomach has been a little iffy because I’ve eaten junk or feels off for no known reason, a run just cleanses that out.

    3. For whatever race I have coming up. Sometimes I don’t want to run. Sometimes I don’t feel better after a (bad) run. But I have to put in the miles to get there – and I’ve dreamed of finishing a full marathon (and even Boston someday) for a while now.

    4. To lose weight / shape up. This is just about always a reason in the background. It’s worked pretty well in the past.

    5. Stress. Ironically running gets put aside when I am really stressed. I get time to think things over during a run.

    6. It’s just my preferred mode of exercise. Tennis needs a partner. Biking I just don’t like. I can’t swim. It’s one of those things you can do just about anytime, anywhere, without tons of equipment. Unless it’s a long run in which case you need tons of gear if you are me.

    7. It really makes my HDL level shoot up. At one point in the spring my HDL was in the 90s. My family’s history with heart disease makes it important that I stay active. A couple of times when my dad was in the hospital for a triple bypass I ran, thinking about him.

    8. A little vanity I guess. When you’re training and you can tell people how much you ran a few hours ago … it’s just fun.

    9. This really should be the number one reason: the extra food I can eat. It’s ok to eat some cheetos or copious amounts of jelly beans when you run a lot.

    I was going to do a number 10 but the jelly beans are calling me.