Why run?

Why do I run? it is a good question. Everybody runs for their own reasons but here are some reasons why I run:

1-To be Health/stay in shape:

When we moved to Emporia I had gained about 10+ pounds from a year and 1/2 of commuting and not exercising at all. Running was an easy way to loose weight and not have to diet! In fact I think I actually eat more now that I run. But I have also found that I try to eat healthier now to help my running. I rarely have soda, I switched to wheat breat (fka-dirty bread), I eat salmon a couple times a month, I drink tons of water all the time. I dont know if this is legit or not but I have a theory that running has cured me of allergies. Since I have run I dont need allergy medicine anymore. I think it is kinda because my body HAS to be able to breath to function during the runs. Also due to wanting to stay in shape for events in the off season we joined the gym last winter. I now weightlift to help tone and get a strong core (which will help your running form), eliptical, stationary bike, etc. It can be summed up by the sweat towels we got at our last race that said "im running my mass off"

2-Use my god given "gifts":

What better way to use by biggest asset, ridiculously long legs. because 85% of my body is legs it makes since to pick a sport where you use your legs dont you think.

3-The Challenge/competition:

I have never won a race and I probably never will but running is a sport that is more about personal achievement. It is fun to always have a goal to be working towards. To run a 5K early in the season and then run one later in the season and get a new PR (personal record for those of you who dont speak runner) is awesome. It makes all those early morning runs, sore muscles, and sweat drenched runs worth it. It is also an amazing feeling to line up on an street at dawn with several thousand other runners and go run 13.1 miles through the streets with them. Running in a sea of other runners is something everyone should do once.

4-The runners high:

It is real. You wont get it after every run and you shouldn't expect to in fact in my experience it is rare to get it when you are training. Usually after a big race that you have been training for, for months is when you get the high. It is a feeling of Accomplishment, bliss, relief, adrenaline, excitement, complete exhaustion yet feeling like you can do anything. It is hard to explain. It is something you just have to experience. It is also special because it is yours and yours alone. When you are on a team and you win it is fun but some worked harder than others and some have more to celebrate than others. But in running when you succeed you know it was all you that accomplished it. In part it is what keeps you training, and coming back for more.

5-See the Sights:

Running is a great way to experience a city. I have learned my way around Emporia via running. I know how streets connect to each other, what streets to stay away from, where the hills are in town, what streets have good sidewalks, bad sidewalks, or none, where the scenery is the best, what the gas prices in town are, if there is something big going on down town, etc. There are few places in town that I haven't run by at least once. Even better is running a big race in a big city. You get to experience a city in a way few others do. When we ran the Kansas City marathon last year they completely shut down major street and we got to run right down the middle of them and pass amazing sites. Because I just started running recently I never ran much in Greenville growing up. But when I have visited I have mapped out some routes around town and been able to experience the town I grew up in for 18 years in ways I dont think I ever did before.

6-Think/dream/vent/talk/listen to music:

Another reason running is a great sport is because you dont have to concentrate very much on what you are doing. Since most of us have been running since we were 2 it comes pretty naturally. So it is a great time to think, sort out your thoughts, make a grocery list, catch up (I love my long runs with Will on Saturday mornings and catching up while running for 2 hours next to him). I have have some of my greatest deepest most profound thoughts while running, like: Which is worse a creapy stalker, or a stalky creeper (probably only Sally and Aarron think this is funny but its ok). Also I must say I think I picked the perfect "era" to start running because even if you love long distance running you do need a way to pass the time and listening to music while you run is great. I am so glad to be able to load 13 hours of music on to an ipod shuffle that I can clip to my shirt and run. I cant imagine dragging around a walkman or diskman and they would only carry and hours worth of music!

7-Gear/apparrel/hardware:

Since I started running last spring I have 5 new t-shirts, 1 long sleeve-t, 2 pairs of flip flops and a whole bulletin board of finishers medals. Also since we run around 20 miles a week it doesn't take long to get 300 to 400 miles on a pair of shoes so I get new running shoes every couple of months. I have the best training watch. Several tech shirts and shorts, a box of yummy Gu, a fridge full of Propel and G2.

8-pass time:

come on what else are you doing at 6am on a Saturday morning? By the time you get up, get ready, eat something, do your long run, cool down, eat something again, stretch, clean up. It will probably be close to 11 and you will feel so accomplished!

9-Sleep better at night:

you can't beleive how good you sleep at night after you have run 6-10 miles! There is something about a full body sweat that is just cleansing. Run 5 miles, take a shower, and go to bed...its better than tylenol PM.

Im sure there are more reasons, many more reasons but I think I will stop here, these all just came to me but to think of more I would have to think about it so thats all. Maybe I have motivated someone to take a jog today? I would write more but I gotta run!