“Why I Run” Winner
Thanks to all who entered the “Why We Run” contest. With just over two hundred votes, Mike’s essay won our hearts.
Entry 39 from Mike Underell
I run because of someone, and that someone is myself. I have no personal stories of tragedy or triumph that propelled me into running, but just a continual need to stay fit and challenge myself to conquer new things. Before I ran, which was no more than 4 years ago, I hated it with a passion. After graduating university though, a friend of mine wanted help losing weight, so we teamed up and started training for our first 10km race. Before I knew it, he and I became training partners and began preparing for our first half marathon, and now he and I are training for our first triathlon. What began as two guys wheezing and moaning for 20-minute runs along the beach turned into 2-hour sessions that ended in smiles as we sprinted the last 100 meters. Those training runs, even though I had a training partner, were very personal. I found that I was growing thanks to my running. I was less stressed, I was feeling more confident, and I was accomplishing something I never thought I would ever do: long distance running. This sense of accomplishment and confidence started to permeate into other parts of my life: work, personal relationships, and most importantly, the relationship I had with myself. Running has taught me life skills that are paying off in dividends even just 4 years later. Why do I run? I run because it makes me a better person.
What Cause Motivates You to Run?
The “Why We Run” contest went so well that I want to continue the goodwill. As many know, I contemplate raising money for an organization while training. I know for some this is a vital part of their experience, that they are running for something much greater than themselves. I want to hear about those causes and learn how it makes crossing the finish line more emotional. Send me your 250 word essays by 7/21 to weightinvain@gmail.com. We’ll vote on those essays and I’ll make a $100 donation to the winner’s cause and a $50 donation to the second place winner’s cause.
“Why I Run” Entries 36 – 39
Entry 36 from Michael Lorenzen
Now, why I run. I once was a stud soccer player and swimmer, and graduated high school at 5’8” 155 pounds and 7% body fat. I left college at 5’9” (yes, I grew an inch!) 216 lbs, 32% body fat. I left in the middle of a rehabilitation of an ACL surgery. I couldn’t run partly because of the rehab, and partly because I was too big for my frame. In order to start getting back in shape, post rehab, I cleaned up my diet and started walking on an incline on the treadmill. I eventually added swimming and spin classes to the mix, and after 9 months had dropped to a respectable 170 lbs. I drunkenly signed up for my first triathlon as a bet with my friend who was on the same weight loss path as me, a half ironman in Michigan. I kicked his ass, found out I was pretty good and threw myself head first into triathlon. I now am 5’9” 155-160 lbs, depending on the day, race at 152ish, and am an age group elite finishing a dozen races in the top 10%. I took an hour off my Chicago marathon time from 2007 this past fall, 2009, going 3:31:xx. I run because I don’t want to be the fat guy again, because I want to prove to myself that I can kick as much ass as I did when I was 18, and that at 28, my best days are still in front of me.
Entry 37 from JD Eddins
I should really start by saying there is a reason why we (my wife and I) run. I use to work as a youth minister, which meant I spent a lot of time away from my family: mission trips, summer camps, lock-ins and retreats. It also meant I had little time for exercise because any time at home was spent with my family, not “recreational activities.” That changed when I switched jobs (now I work a drug treatment center for young men) and moved closer to turning 30. In fact, when my wife and I were still 29 we decided that we would run our first marathon together. We started training, I lost about 20 pounds and we ran our first Half Marathon for Soaring Wings Ranch in 2009 in 2:15 (it was on my wife’s 30th birthday). Later in December we ran our marathon St. Jude’s in Memphis, TN. I was injured (I had boils), but my wife and I were able to run together for the first 8 miles. She went ahead of me and finished around 4:30, I came chugging across the finish line in 5:13. Certainly not the performance I was hoping for, however we had both finished our first marathon.
We continue to run in order to stay healthy. In April I ran the Music City Half Marathon and cut 15 minutes off my previous time. Now I am hoping I can avoid injury and be ready for for St. Jude’s again this year. We’ll be running the Soaring Wings Half Marathon again on October 23. This year for the St. Jude’s Marathon we will be joined by my mother-in-law who, in the last year, has lost 100 lbs and will be running her first official half marathon.
It has been great to see the transformation that running has had on our family. Not only has it improved our health, but it has also brought us much closer together.
Entry 38 from Beth Nelson
Why do I run? I have two very good reasons.
The first one is for my health. I didn’t start running until after I turned 30. I was looking for something new that would give me an effective workout in a short period of time. I ran my first 5K in June 2009. I had a foot injury that prevented me from running as much as I wanted to this spring but I ran another 5K earlier this month. I enjoy the camaraderie running brings and I geek out on the accessories.
The second one is for the challenge. I never imagined that running would also help me through a rough patch in my professional life. Just after I started running, I interviewed for a job and didn’t get it, which caused me to have a mini-career crisis. As much as I tried to block out the world when I ran, the time on the treadmill gave me time to think clearly about what was at hand and about what I wanted out of life. The more I ran, the more I was able to think with clarity. I realized I want my job to challenge me as much as running does. Fast forward to now: I’ve started a new training program to improve my 5K time. I’m also starting a new job soon, one that will challenge me and keep me focused every day – just like running.
Entry 39 from Mike Underell
I run because of someone, and that someone is myself. I have no personal stories of tragedy or triumph that propelled me into running, but just a continual need to stay fit and challenge myself to conquer new things. Before I ran, which was no more than 4 years ago, I hated it with a passion. After graduating university though, a friend of mine wanted help losing weight, so we teamed up and started training for our first 10km race. Before I knew it, he and I became training partners and began preparing for our first half marathon, and now he and I are training for our first triathlon. What began as two guys wheezing and moaning for 20-minute runs along the beach turned into 2-hour sessions that ended in smiles as we sprinted the last 100 meters. Those training runs, even though I had a training partner, were very personal. I found that I was growing thanks to my running. I was less stressed, I was feeling more confident, and I was accomplishing something I never thought I would ever do: long distance running. This sense of accomplishment and confidence started to permeate into other parts of my life: work, personal relationships, and most importantly, the relationship I had with myself. Running has taught me life skills that are paying off in dividends even just 4 years later. Why do I run? I run because it makes me a better person.
“Why I Run” Entries 31 – 35
Entry 31 from Donna
What if someone told you that you are healthy… Active… 100% fine…
But… They couldn’t guarantee that you would be like this forever…
Sure, we all live with the fact that we will get older, that as we age we may slow down and we will certainly change.
But… What if you learned that you had a genetic condition and that one day, some day, maybe, this condition could mean that even walking up a flight of stairs might be impossible?
In 2004 I was diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth disease – a genetic condition which means that my nerves don’t transmit signals to my muscles properly. The diminished nerve functioning would lead to progressive, degenerative muscle atrophy – from the periphery of the body (hands and feet) to the core. My future mobility was unknown.
Wow. I went to the doctor because my left foot hurt after walking a half marathon, and I wanted a solution to walk a full marathon. I walked away with a potentially life changing prognosis.
Once I received my diagnosis, I decided that I had to learn more, to understand the true meaning of having CMT. I joined a Yahoogroup, I went to a nutritionist. I did some reading. And then I put all of it away. The facts were overwhelming, the ways in which CMT could potentially manifest itself in me unknown. Leg braces, wheelchairs, breathing problems, hearing loss… But would that happen to me? I couldn’t process the uncertainties. I closed that book, put it on the shelf. And I tried to forget about it.
In 2006 we moved house. Suddenly I lived in my dream home in central London – the house is older than the Declaration of Independence, complete with 5 stories of spiral staircase. But the dream had an unintended consequence. I felt weak. My legs? Leaden. Frankenlegs. I felt like I was losing my ability to move. I was scared. Was CMT the reason why climbing stairs was becoming harder and harder?
I went back to the doctor. I decided to get a genetically confirmed diagnosis and to take the steps to more “actively manage” my CMT.
In 2007 I signed up for my first triathlon, and found a sports therapist to work with. I thought that becoming fit and strong would help my body to manage any longer term impacts of CMT – but I also knew that to become strong I would need to work with my body to stretch out, loosen up and eventually strengthen my tight and atrophying muscles. I found someone to help me – a sports therapist (who is also a triathlete) that I have been working with over three years to manage my training and CMT.
I completed my first sprint triathlon in 2007, walking the 5k portion, and did the same in 2008. But I found myself doing the minimum required to stay fit – because it was easy to “just get by”. I decided in 2009 that I needed to step up my game and set myself the goal of learning to run again so that I could become “a proper triathlete” and have a reason to keep training through the long winter months.
I hadn’t run since I was about 9… I had knees that dislocated a lot when I was younger. I was scared of hurting myself. Way back then, I became the slowest in the class. I hated doing sport. So I stopped. I didn’t think I could run anymore. And no one challenged me to think otherwise. In 2004 they put a name on my knee problems too – Ehlers Danlos or benign hypermobility syndrome.
In 2009, when I decided to revisit my goals, something also crept into the back of my mind. Why couldn’t I run? Maybe running, like swimming and cycling, would help me to become stronger. Maybe running would help me to have a stronger base so that if my nerves stopped working I would decline from a position of strength. Maybe if I approached it sensibly, I would be able to run.
After talking with the research physiotherapists at the National Hospital of Neurology in London I concluded there was no reason why I could not try to learn to run again. They said it would be tough, but that it should be possible. So I started, on a typical Couch-to-5k plan…
The biomechanics of CMT mean that I have high arched feet, muscle atrophy in my feet and lower legs, and reduced strength in my limbs. My sense of balance is impaired. And because the nerves conduct signals to my muscles so slowly, muscle development, if it occurs at all, takes a very long time.
My biomechanics have made my journey to run again long, hard and fraught with setback. I have suffered tendonitis, inflammation, constant aches… But unlike when I was 9, when I stopped running, this time I was challenging the convention. And unlike that 9 year old little girl who hated to be last and who hated to be slow, this time I wasn’t quitting. I would accept the slow and just search for the solutions – the ways to improve and to become better in a “me versus me” scenario.
In 2009 I had to scale back my goals. My body took much longer to respond to training than “the plans” indicated, with a whole raft of unexpected consequences. I decided that my goal – to complete an Olympic distance triathlon – would have to wait for 2010. To achieve this, I needed more support. I asked Coach T if he would be interested in helping me along on my journey – to help me to do triathlon to become strong and to stay as strong as possible for as long as possible. I started on this next phase of my journey with one more person on my team…
The journey has been long and has been hard. I have spent a lot of time reflecting and learning about myself – in addition to the hours clocked training. What are some of my reflections?
I think that we give up on ourselves too easily. We do the school sports day race and come in last and then quit because “we are the worst in the class”. We hear a diagnosis and then without question or challenge accept the doctor’s statements as our fate. We hear an unwanted truth and then choose to ignore it rather than internalising it and figuring out how we can work with that reality to be the best that we can be with the cards we have been dealt.
Sure, acceptance is a hard thing. But perhaps even harder is taking the next step – the moment in time that we decide to defy convention. There is nothing harder than committing to the unknown – deciding to push ourselves just to see just what we CANdo, embracing a challenge knowing full well that we cannot control everything and that we cannot guarantee our own success. It is tough to choose to do something where failing is a distinct possibility. It is HARD to willingly place ourselves in a place that is so uncomfortable, that can be so painful, a place where quitting would be a perfectly reasonable option…
But then we discover that we can transcend those feelings.
That is my journey…
I am doing triathlons to get strong and to be as strong as possible so that one day, if I do decline from my CMT, I will do so from a position of strength.
I am doing triathlons because I CAN do them.
I push myself because I believe I will only know what I CAN do by discovering my limits – and because sometimes conventions need to be tested, defied and broken.
Who knows if I will succeed? All I can do is TRI.
How many times have we heard that the purpose of life is not the destination but the journey? Or that sometimes the longest roads bring with them the greatest feelings of accomplishment? Or that the greatest feeling is doing something that other people say you can’t?
I wholeheartedly believe that all of the above is true. By looking inside, embracing the things that have scared me, fighting through and looking for ways to manage my pain, finding the support to help me to grow strong, and working toward my goals in a reasonable, structured, balanced and sensible way, I am in the process of doing what some people think is impossible.
I TRI because I CAN…
I TRI to beat limitations…
And I TRI this year on behalf of the CMTA and their quest for a cure for CMT Type 1A , which impacts 1 in 5000 people including myself. I TRI so that hopefully others diagnosed with CMT will never have to question IF they CAN in the future.
Entry 32 from Karina Dublin
I started to run to get away from the fat girl I used to be. Having lost 50 pounds through Weight Watchers, I was scared that the day I stopped exercising, all the weight would come back. Instead, I started to run more–both more often and for longer periods of time. To date, I’ve run in some twenty races and posted good results at almost every distance. I’ve found I no longer run to stay in my single-digit size; my motivation has changed of late–though I admit they are still fairly selfish.
See, now that I finally define myself as a runner, and not just a formerly fat girl, I find I want more. I want to get faster, and stronger. I want to someday break 4 hours in the marathon. I want to run a cross-state relay. I want to complete an ultramarathon. Adding to my love of running is that, as a stay-at-home mom to two very loquacious kids, my daily run is the only time I get silence! I am thankful for the time I’m afforded to be alone with my thoughts, and to push my own limits and boundaries in physical, tangible ways.
Is there anything better than getting home from a run, tired and dripping with sweat?
Entry 33 from Kristen
I started running 6 or 7 years ago when I was turning 40 and didn’t want to look like I was turning 40! Running was the only sport that I could manage to fit in around a busy career, husband and two small children. I kept on running because I fell in love with it. I started running faster and further. When I am running I feel that my body, my brain and my soul are totally in sync. I experience nature through all the seasons. I get the psychological boost of setting myself goals and achieving them (sometimes). Since then I have run 2 marathons and numerous half marathons, 10km and 5 kms.
3 weeks ago I found out I have cancer – Hodgkins Lymphoma. This seems unfair since I am one of the fittest, healthiest people I know! But I plan to keep on running because when I run I realise that I am still in control of my body, despite the sickness. When I run I can work through the dark thoughts and by the time I finish I realise that I love life, no matter what! I run so that I can beat this SOAB, and when it is beaten it will be easier to get back to setting and achieving those ambitious running goals. I run because I can’t help it. You can read more about my reasons for keeping on running here: http://kirstenejlskov.wordpress.com/
Entry 34 from Tracy
I run because I can, physically. And because I will never take that
for granted.
I grew up in a running household with a dad and a sister who were both
marathoners. For a long time, running was something I took for
granted. If I wanted to lose weight, I ran. If I needed exercise, I
ran. To feel good about myself, I ran. And then, for me, all of my
reasons – predicated on running always being there – changed
instantly.
One morning in March of 2008, I woke up with stabbing chest pain that
drove me immediately to the ER. I had a blood clot in my lung, a
pulmonary embolism. For months after, I could not walk up a flight of
stairs. Me – an avid runner and a four-time marathoner – could not
walk up a flight of stairs. Weeks after the clot, I often crawled up
the stairs to my second floor apartment (sometimes in tears). Six
months after the clot, it still could take me nearly 15 minutes to
clear the two flights of stairs leading from the subway to the street.
I wanted to run up the stairs, but I barely had the lungpower to
walk, even with breaks.
My race times now are slower. Running is harder. But I’m training
for another marathon, and I’ll get there. Running through my recovery
has been a painful, arduous, and humbling process. But most
significantly, it helped me realize why I run: because I can.
Entry 35 from John Senger
the way keeps me from getting into a rut and also keeps me in shape so I don’t lose time as I get older. I also enjoy the social aspect of running. I love the training teams I’ve been involved with. You can make some really wonderful friends over the course of a marathon training season. Not many
people are happy to sit around and chat with you while a puddle slowly grows around your feet from the sweat dripping off you after a run, but your running buddies are. This carries into races as well, as I find that
meeting people and talking with them during a race is a great way to make the miles go by quickly. My best race results have come when I spent most or all of the race chatting with people and focusing on them, not the
miles. My worst results have come when I’ve been running alone. So for me, I guess running boils down to two things – satisfying my competitive nature in meeting a challenge and my social nature and need to have friends to share the experience with.
“Why I Run” Entries 26 – 30
Entry 26 from Carrie Couch
I run because it is what I know how to do. When I run it is just me and my thoughts, nobody breathing down my neck to go faster or do better. It is up to me to get up when the alarm goes off, lace up and get out the door. If I decide to sleep in the only person disappointed is myself. Some articles I have read say running is not good for your joints, but I do it anyway. Even though I need custom orthotics for my shoes I still run. My husband doesn’t run so he doesn’t really get why I do it. I do it because I like when I see other runners out and we give each other the little runner’s wave, I feel a sense of pride, like we are all part of some fraternity. I look forward to walking in the house after a run, taking off my Garmin, sipping on cold coconut water and stretching – sometimes followed by a dip in the pool while still in my running shorts and top. I don’t run because it is easy or pain free, that is for sure. Running does not make me skinny but it does make me really sweaty. I don’t run fast by any means but at least I can tell myself that I did good, I did it, I got up and ran today.
Entry 27 from Janissa Cox
The last two years of life have been unreal. Week after week for the first year I remember telling myself “things couldn’t possibly get any worse.” WRONG. There have been only two real joys in my life as I have sunk into the deep with life. First, on March 9, 2008- Sophie was born. A little girl that for over two years now my husband and I have been fighting to adopt. I took her home from the hospital on March 11, 2008 and she has been with us ever since. Within a matter of months, it became blaringly obvious that she wasn’t hitting milestones that babies her age do. Within six months of her birth, she was in physical therapy 3x a week. Now, almost 28 months old, she has been diagnosed and is a special needs child. I spend my days rotating her therapies- PT 3x a week, OT 3x a week, speech 2x a week, aqua therapy 1x a week, and meetings with a special education teacher twice monthly. This doesn’t include visits with specialists and doctors or play groups or classes. My life is consumed with being a good parent to her. I also forgot to mention that I have three older children- all typically developing- all bioligically mine. My life is busy. I love being a mother- I love watching my children interact. But, it is a full time job.
On March 8, 2009, we had a huge first birthday party for Sophie. It was a beautiful day full of friends and family. However, I was unhappy. When I looked at the photos from the day I felt sick. How did I allow myself to gain this much weight again? Six years ago I had been over 200 lbs and had worked hard and lost 50 lbs. I never wanted the scale to say anything more than 150 again. But, i allowed it to happen. I made a decision and started on my thirtieth birthday-two days later- March 10, 2009. I enlisted a friend and woke up at 6am that cold Maryland March morning and we started to run. I didn’t know what I was doing but very quickly I realized that I loved the way I felt when I was done with the run. Truth be told… I mentally talked myself into every step I took during the run. However, as soon as I was finished, I felt like I was floating. We started out too aggressively and within a month I sustained an overuse injury to my right achilles. It was a mild injury and I went through 4 weeks of physical therapy to get back to where I started. I made it through the therapy and in June 2009 ran my first 5k. It was intense but I was so proud when I finished. Within two weeks of that 5k- on a long run on a Saturday- I injured myself again- this time more seriously. A grade two tear in my left Achilles. This time the pain was unbearable for weeks. I spent 10 weeks in PT 3x a week nursing this injury back to health. You would think after two injuries (obviously because I was out of shape and overdid it) within just a few months of beginning to run that I would just quit. But, it pushed me harder. I had one discourager with my running… my husband. With each injury he said that my new hobby was selfish in that it was taking me away from my family. He didn’t come to the races I ran. He tried to talk me back into bed when I was waking at 6am to go run. He specifically told me that I would never accomplish my goal of running a half marathon. It drove me harder. I continued running in 2009. I ran two more 5k’s. Around the end of the year- I felt my drive slowing. My parents had just divorced after 31 years of marriage- my father met a woman on the internet and married her after never meeting and only knowing her for three weeks. We had a horrible twist with the adoption case and I suddenly felt threatened by the biological father to Sophie. I wish I could say that I ran through it, but I didn’t. I stopped for a little while. But every day- I thought about lacing my shoes up. Every day- I thought about setting my clock earlier and going for the run. Every day- I missed the way I felt after the run. A hard winter passed in Maryland and 2010 rolled in. I ran a 5k in Nashville with my husband and brother in law on New Year’s Day… hung over and miserable. But, I did it. This year HAD to better than the last- in the words of Counting Crows.
So here it is the end of June and I’m back on the saddle. Running 4-5 days a week and cross training with weights and the bicycle on the alternating days. Running is my second joy in this insane life. I’ve missed it. I will run a half marathon in the fall. I will prove to myself and my neigh sayers that I CAN accomplish this goal. You want to know why I run? I run for me. I run because its the ONLY control I have in this world. I run because I feel amazing when I’m done. I run because I can’t imagine not running. I run because I want to be the best mom I can be to my kids. I run because I want to look in the mirror and love the person I see. I run because I’ve found a common bond with other runners. I run because I’ve found a way to clear out all of the muddiness of my mind from life in a healthy way. I run because I’m a runner.
Entry 28 from Rebecca Wagner
I come from a family of athletes. My mom is consistently the golf club champion. My sister is a squash player and avid cyclist. My dad is a professor of Exercise and Sports Studies and basically the fittest person I know. And me? I like sports. I played tennis in high school and was captain of my college squash team. But I’m fat. I have always been the heaviest person in my family, and usually the heaviest person at work. When my son was born, I knew I had to change my life. I had horrible post partum depression and had gained nearly 60 lbs. while pregnant. So, I bought a jogging stroller, and I ran. I ran and ran until it became an obsession. Instead of taking my daily dose of Celexa, I ran. And I lost weight; forty-two pounds to be exact. Then I got pregnant again and the whole cycle started over. I lost twenty-eight pounds after the birth of my daughter, and continue to struggle with my weight, but the most consistent thing in my life is that I run. It is my daily Zen, and I wouldn’t trade that time each day for anything. In the past year I’ve run two half-marathons, one of them being the NYC Half which routed me straight through Times Square on a beautiful Sunday morning in March. At that moment, I knew that I wasn’t just some mom who enjoys a daily run, but I had become an athlete, like everyone else in my family. I am a runner.
Entry 29 from Greg Kovalick
I run for myself. I started running in high school just for something to do. Now it’s almost an everyday thing. I try to inspire my friends that it’s not bad to get out and go for a short run just to keep healthy. I’m constantly being questioned now at work by my coworkers on what can they do or eat to better they’re life styles. Especially since they see how much work I put into what I’m doing. I also run to keep my mind clear, after a long day at work sometimes you just need to get out and go for an hour or 2. I run to push my limits. It’s more of a mind training exercise for me anymore.
Entry 30 from Debbie Bosilevac
Dear girls,
You may find this hard to believe, but I didn’t grow up with very high self-esteem. Not that my parents were to blame. They weren’t. At least, therapy has not yet revealed that they were. My self-esteem was something that I have worked hard on, something that I earned over years.
And now, I’m thirty-five years old, and I’m looking at my three gorgeous girls. And I hope you don’t have to grow up the same way that I did.
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned in this life is that the human body is capable of handling more than one thinks: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I learned this very quickly when we asked for one child and God gave us three. And thank goodness that happened, because the three of you together, and alone, are the highlight of my life. That lesson is so vital because it teaches us that, when times are good, we can achieve greatness, and when times are tough, we can persevere, and perhaps ascend through the hardship.
This, my dears, is why I run. Don’t get me wrong; I like running. But the running is not about me. The running is about you. Running marathons is a way for me to prove to you in a very concrete way that, in fact, you can achieve greatness in anything you put your mind and hard work into. And that is why, next summer, I will delve into the world of ultramarathons. It’s not to prove that I can. It’s that someday I hope you look back and say that YOU can. I hope someday when your times get tough, you look back and decide to find the strength within yourself to persevere and to achieve greatness. Because showing you that is one of the greatest legacies I can leave you.
I love you,
Mom
“Why I Run” Entries 21 – 25
Entry 21 from Dawn Aiello
I run because running is a venue for me to learn how to discipline myself. It is chance to practice setting goals and making the appropriate choices to best achieve those goals. It is a reminder to me to always make healthy decisions, whether in terms of my physical body, my emotional health or my spiritual well-being. It is a challenge I enjoy facing because some of my greatest successes in life have occurred in a race. In high school, running gave me the courage to stand up against guys who were bullying my sister. In college, it helped me push through the growing pains of becoming an adult. I run because it keeps me from being crazy. I run for the high that follows each workout. I run because it is something that I can share in with my sister, something we can do together, something we can challenge one another in, and something we can always talk about. I run because I passed the baton off to her in the 4x800m race at the state finals in 2002 and catching it on film was one of my dad’s happiest moments. Most importantly of all, I run because I was instructed to by my great Lord and Savoior. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1
Entry 22 from Carmen @llaneza9
I sometimes don’t talk about the reasons why I run and why I still keep running. I remember the thing that got me started it was the year I turn 25, which is supposed to be a golden year for a person. But that year turned out to be life-changing. My 7 year relationship was coming to sudden end, a decision I made. I started running for myself and be brave of what lay ahead. It was more to boost my confidence and build my self-esteem. I was scared about my break up but I knew that I was doing the right thing. That year, my then-6 year old cousin got cancer. And that put a lot of things into perspective. I thought to myself: “life is so precious” and decided to start run a marathon, not just for myself, but in her honor and raise money for childhood cancer awareness. Because I know that my fear of being alone, pain and aches from running are nothing compare to what she is going through. She fought bravely for 7 years with cancer and sadly she passed away last winter. I think that being with my cousin and the experience of losing someone so young has given me strength to continue running. I’m still afraid of many things – still being alone, the pain and aches from running – but I will continue to run remembering that this little girl has gone through many marathons of pain and fear and she remained a happy and loving angel.
Entry 23 from Judith Roberts
I started running (officially) Aug. 22, 2009. I had run a little before that, but on Aug. 22, I signed up for my first half marathon to be held February 2010. The reasons were numerous: my husband had just been diagnosed with diabetes, and my stress levels were rising. I started my doctoral program that summer, which just stressed me out even more. Family issues just added the weight to my shoulders. But running…running released the stress. Running brought a sense of confidence and clarity and now, almost a year later, I am proud to say that I am almost at my PR goal of a 30-min 5K and my husband now runs with me.
Entry 24 from Beth Simon
The reasons I started running are not the reasons I still run.
I started running to lose weight to be skinnier and prettier than my backstabbing friends; so I could be strong enough to finally win that fantasy fight with my dad’s mistress; and as a “screw you” to the man who had run me down with his truck and didn’t get out of his car, call the cops or even roll down his window. I was running to fend off alzheimers, heart disease, diabetes, and others that took my loved ones and lay in wait in my DNA to claim me. I was running because I hated someone. It wasn’t my “friends,” my dad, his girlfriend, or that driver. It was me.
But now, I run because I can. Because running made me stronger. One mile, then three, then ten without stopping proved to me that I am not a victim. I keep going when it is hard. I forgive when I am hurt. I prioritize myself. I do not have a “bad” leg. I am not overweight. I do not have to hate anyone. I don’t have to prove that I am good enough, fast enough, strong enough. I don’t have to cross a finish line or “fail.” Just keeping going is enough. I am enough, even when slow. Even when weak. Even when sad. Even when I let myself hurt. I am enough. All it took was running to prove it, to me
Entry 25 from Emily Mullen @fishyillini
I run because cycling sucks. So does dieting. And weight lifting really isn’t for me. But I love M&Ms. And cheeseburgers. And not being embarrassed about my weight or size.
I run because I was the last to be picked in gym class. Always.
I run because every now and then I catch myself in a mirror and don’t recognize the slender body with oh-so-cool muscle definition – just the right amount to be sexy, but not overly buff and scary. Perhaps it’s vain, but I’m starting to think I might look good in a swimsuit.
I run for the simplicity of the sport: a pair of good shoes and some open road is all I need. And I run for the drama of it all. The agony of injury – more emotional than physical. The pride of completing the race longer & faster than I’d have ever thought possible.
I run because it seems I inspire others. “If she can run, then so can I.” Ha! Truthfully, I run to inspire myself… the others are just accidental.
And finally, I run because I can. I expect there will be a day when I cannot run. I hope that day comes sometime long into the future. Until then, I will not waste an opportunity to use my body, mind, and spirit, to go naturally and freely, to find peace and balance regularly, and to keep moving forward. There are too many others in this world who are not as blessed.
“Why I Run” Entries 16 – 20
I think I'm a runner...
Entry 16 from Katherine D’Alexander
I began running a year ago this month. I was diagnosed with asthma in 7th grade during track season, and did everything I could to avoid running thereafter.
12 years later, after quitting an excessively stressful job in PR and gaining about 30 pounds, I attended a personal development session where I wanted to focus on what my new career should be. In a moment of clarity I decided upon nursing, and have been happier than ever before since embarking on my new dream. I took a career change and evolved it into a life change.
I started running to finally get healthy. I thought, if I’m going to be an advocate for health, shouldn’t I be healthy as well? And here I am. About to run my first half marathon in September, getting healthier each day. Take that, asthma.
Entry 17 from Lauren
I was a non-runner when some of my co-workers were participating in a corporate challenge 8K. But I figured, why not? Why couldn’t I run? I certainly wasn’t getting any younger. Exercise would be a good thing!
I bought a treadmill and started training on my own. There were some aches and pains, but I made it through that 8K. And somehow running had become a part of my life.
I joined a running club and took some training classes. With friends from that group, I trained for my first half marathon. After a few years of running, I tackled my first full marathon. That distance was a bit intimidating, but I wasn’t alone. My friends and I trained for and completed our first marathon together.
Three years later, I was ready to see what else I could do. In January 2010, I challenged my legs to carry me even farther with the Goofy Challenge. I ran 39.3 miles in two days, completing the Disney World Half Marathon on Saturday and the Disney World Marathon on Sunday. I crossed the finish line (both of them!) with a smile on my face.
Sure I run because it’s healthy. I enjoy the excitement that comes with racing. I love that I have made so many friends through this sport.
I’m also proud of the miles I’ve run. I cherish the medals I’ve collected. And nothing beats the joy I feel when I run farther or faster than I thought was possible!
Entry 18 from Tyrone Mitchell (@tyronem)
I decided that it was time to do something drastic when I realized that the next pant size up would only be sold in a few stores (big & tall, specifically). I wanted to lose some weight doing something I could enjoy that’s simple.
I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis in my small joints (wrists, knuckles) so weights are difficult. When I have a flare, one hand could hurt for two weeks at a time…then possibly flip to the other hand. Even when I flare now, I can wrap my hands and run. (Rarely do I have some pain in my hips or knees. If I do, it’s not RA-related.) So I run. I run for weight loss, a break from the indoors and mental health.
I don’t know how long I’ll be able to run. But I realize that I’m stronger (and faster) than I thought I’d be. I’ve lost 15 lbs. I feel much better about myself. I’ve run 5 5ks now and was able to run 6.2 (10k) this morning for the first time outdoors (not on a treadmill). It’s not a race, but I felt great. I’m eyeing a half-marathon this year. I hope to start training for it soon.
I never thought I could do this when I started, but here I am.
That’s why I run.
Entry 19 from Katy
My answer to why I run is pretty simple. I run because of my Mom. Four years ago my mom at 64 was the same mom that I had my entire life…never got her hair wet while swimming, was constantly trying some new fad diet, and her idea of a good workout was walking into town with her best friend to split an ice cream sundae. I never saw her play a sport (although she was a great cheerleader on the sidelines!) and I didn’t consider her athletic at all. That year, she decided that for her 65th birthday she wanted to run the Disney Half Marathon with her 4 daughters to celebrate the milestone. Come to find out, she had her eye on the Donald Duck medal that her son in law had received when he did the half! Here is the funny part…not only was she not a runner, neither were her four daughters. I honestly never even considered running a half marathon…it really didn’t sound very fun to me. But what can you say to your 64 year old mom when she asks? Of course we all said “YES!” (and then I secretly wondered what I had gotten myself into). We all dove into our training head first – my mom even started a blog to track her progress. The main focus was to make sure that my mom could finish the race in 3:30 or the dreaded bus would pull her off of the course. On race day as soon as the gun went off two of my sisters darted out fast – they were shooting for a PR. My other sister and I held steady with Mom. She was doing amazing until mile 6…something went wrong. She was cold, clammy, and felt ill. I flew ahead to the medic tent to get her some help. The medics urged her to quit and she was adamant that she was going finish the race. She was such a trooper for the next 7 miles…she listened when I told her we needed to speed up (to stay away from the pick up bus) and crossed the finish line at 3:27:10! We all cried. I have never been so proud of her – she set a goal, worked for it, and met it! How amazing and inspiring – I suddenly saw my mother in a whole new light. We have all continued to run. I have completed 5 half marathons (with a PR of 2:06), multiple 5 & 10Ks, and even an adventure race. My Mom has run over 15 races each year for the last 3 years – we have run 2 more half marathons together. I am hooked! Oh, and you should see my mom now – she always gets her hair wet when swimming, doesn’t have to diet anymore (because she looks amazing), and runs to get a smoothie instead of a sundae. That is why I run. I run because of my Mom.
Entry 20 from Katherine
Unlike many other runners, my path to discovering running began in the pool.
As a competitive swimmer, running had always been a part of my cross-training, but it was never something that I particularly enjoyed. In fact, it’s fair to say that I hated it. For years, I struggled with a hip flexor injury that made running even more painful than it seemed, and although I was a decent runner, I never would’ve guessed the role running would play in my athletic future.
At 18, I thought I’d enjoy four full years of varsity swimming at Tulane University in New Orleans; however, Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, and months later, in the middle of my junior year of college, I was faced with the sudden end of my competitive swimming career when my team was cut. For a total of sixteen years, I’d defined myself by my accomplishments as an elite swimmer, but who was I really without swimming in my life?
In the months following my return to a battered and bruised New Orleans, I discovered running as a way to release stress, enjoy the scenery of Audubon Park, and spend time alone with my thoughts as I had done as a swimmer. Running has since provided me with a new platform for physical challenges, accomplishing goals, and maintaining some fitness from my days as a fish.
Just as I once thought about swimming, I can’t imagine my life without running as a part of it.
“Why I Run” Entries 11 – 15
Entry 11 from MB
I run becasue the mental energy to run is sometimes effortless and other times is challenging consequently i like running even more because it really is a challenge. I have often thought I take running for granted and do not work at it like i should; What if I couldn’t run one day, what would I do? I have read the stories of people who have lost the abiltiy to run and I sometimes see people looking at me while running with a look like they are wondering what running is all about or whether they could run! I run because I can and someday I might not be able move one foot in front of the other in a rapid motion , running is the most effective form of exercise for both mental and physical conditiioning and sometimes I feel like I’m flying.
Entry 12 from Pam Achladis
I am blessed with good physical health and a strong mental strength that allow me to run. I run because I am free to do so. I realize that not all people are as fortunate to have the ability to do it due to physical or mental limitations.
I also run because of the significant impact that the activity has on my life. I am a better person because of my running – it has made me more disciplined, more confident, more emotional, more patient, more friendly and more aware of how wonderful life can be!
Entry 13 from Katie
Why do I run? First, because I can. I grew up in a family where it was assumed you would use your gifts and talents, and to not do so would be a waste. Not that I’m a “good” runner. But I have a working set of legs and lungs. And not everyone does.
But really, I run because I need the discipline. I am a sprinter by nature – my personality and my fast-twitch muscles are all geared toward short bursts of energy and focus. But life is much less about sprinting and a lot more about macing and longevity. There are so many things that I need to be reminded to not quit, not give up on, and to have a long-term perspective. Running has given me that. The first little bit of a run, I’m excited, I feel like I could go forever. Of course, there’s the second little bit of the run, where I want to die, would rather just take a nap, and I want to quit. But if I can make it to THIRD bit of the run, I am reminded that I am stronger than I think and that my head sometimes lies to me. Sometimes, you just have to keep on keepin’ on. And if running/distance training doesn’t teach you that, I’m not sure anything will.
Entry 14 from Brady Gervais
Why do I run? It can’t be confined to a single reason.
I run to escape. I run when I need to think, relieve stress, and be alone. I run to be with friends or make new ones on the lakefront path. I run for its discipline and sense of accomplishment. I run for my health and to kick cancer’s ass. I run because I wasn’t an athlete in high school; now I am.
I run to eat. So I can indulge in a slice of ginger peach apple pie or a pear scone without the added ingredient of guilt.
I run because it’s my antidepressant. The simple act of lacing up my shoes and running makes me instantly happy. Whether my run is sluggish or fast, I’m able to start the day on the right foot or end on a positive note.
When I’m not running, sharing my love for the sport makes me happy. I’ve supported friends who want to get off the couch and get moving. I’ve encouraged them to run their first 5k. I’ve toed the line with them at their first marathon.
I’ve been running for six years. This winter I had my first injury. I hated being stuck on a stationary bike and mourned the loss of my feet on the pavement. Post-recovery, I cherish every step and look forward to every mile ahead.
Entry 15 from Leslie
I am so many things. Wife. Daughter. Sister. Friend. Teacher. Employee. And so many more. All of these roles have expectations that I work diligently to meet. At the end, or usually the beginning, I need something else. Something for me. That something is ruuning.
I run because no one expects it from me. Except me. I expect it because it gives me a chance to escape all the expectations of life. If I am stressed and need to get my frustration out, a good run will make me feel ok again. If I am tired, running gives me energy. If I just need to relax, I can run. But perhaps most importantly, when I need to be reminded of what I am capable of and how I can challenge myself, I run.
“Why I Run” Entries 6 – 10
Entry 6 from Virginia Barter
There is the saying that people come into your life for a reason, season or a lifetime. I met my “reason” friend Cathy in the months before I turned 40 and she invited me to start running with her; who me? run?…no way!!! I told my husband secretly that I would like a treadmill for my 40th birthday so that I could privately see if I could be a “runner”. Our friendship didn’t last however I realized in hindsight that the reason she came into my life was to make me a runner. Her inspiration for me became my inspiring my two “lifetime” friends who both became runners. Our girls weekends now consist of race weekends in different cities, my first girlfriend vacation became a trip to Las Vegas for the marathon weekend. I’ve just turned 50 and my treadmill is also one of my lifetime friends, it’s there when it’s too cold, too hot, especially when steam needs to be released. I didn’t understand how running would define my life, it is now who I am…. a runner.
Entry 7 from Greg
I run for myself. I started running in high school just for something to do. Now it’s almost an everyday thing. I try to inspire my friends that it’s not bad to get out and go for a short run just to keep healthy. I’m constantly being questioned now at work by my coworkers on what can they do or eat to better they’re life styles. Especially since they see how much work I put into what I’m doing. I also run to keep my mind clear, after a long day at work sometimes you just need to get out and go for an hour or 2. I run to push my limits. It’s more of a mind training exercise for me anymore.
Entry 8 from Zane Hagy
I run…because I have to. It started when I found out I couldn’t walk to my office from my car without breathing heavy, and turned into a way I’d lose 70 pounds. It started as easy jogs, and turned into marathons and triathlons. It started to make me healthier than I was, and now prevents me from going back. Oh yeah, it’s also a great stress release and is fun, and makes tight jeans look a lot better.
Entry 9 from Heidi Herman
for
- for mental and physical health
- champagne
- for leginness
- the adrenaline + endorphines
- to remind myself that i can do it
Entry 10 from Britton
I’ve always been an excerciser. I was an athlete growning up and all through high school. I missed the comradere of fellow peers who enjoyed doing the same acitivies that I did. One day I saw a sign up sheet for a half-marathon at the local YMCA and I’ve never looked back. I have made so many new friends who now form a weekly running group each Saturday. I continue to run because there is no greater feeling than crossing that finish line and knowing that you have accomplished your goal. Although running is an individual accomplishment, the motivation and encouragement from fellow peers and runners is an amazing thing. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that support! I also run for my health. It motivates me to continue to eat right and live the healthy lifestyle that I want to live. I run to inspire others! If just one person can learn from my accomplishments, it is well worth it. I want others to see that anything is possible!
“Why I Run” Entries 1 – 5
I am asking what motivates you to run? Is it someone who does it? I still get choked up about this couple. Where do you get your belief that you can finish those 26.2 miles? I asked for readers to send me their essays and we’ll be voting on our favorite until July 11. The winner will receive a new iPod Shuffle, and the runner up will receive my Garmin Forerunner 305 (barely used).
Entry 1 from Dan (@cubicledad)
I run…
- to be healthy for the first time in my adult life.
- for my 2 daughters and for my wife.
- because I have found I love running.
- to inspire change in others.
- to raise funds for the American Heart Association in honor of my daughter, K and for my father.
Entry 2 from Kevin Ferry
Without question it shaped my life (excuse the pun) when I was a teenager I was doing stuff that I look back on now that I wasn’t proud of. My PE teacher was my mentor and suggested I join a running club, winning races I found I was being looked upon in a completely different way, people congratulating me on my success, even in defeat I learned to accept and appreciate my fellow competitors, this built my confidence and equipped me well for the future, and in reality all I was caving was attention.
I met people who came from much more privileged backgrounds who I would never have come across, who guided me in life, built long term friendships I ended up going onto art school and I’m now a Creative Director in a digital agency.
I still run now and still feel free, any stresses are wiped clean, the sport is a lifesaver.
Entry 3 from Robert Leat
I run because It is a sport I am very good at, it helps me stay fit and healthy , it is one of my main hobbies. it has helped me gain many friends. It is my aim to one day run in the olympics. I was inspired by the 2008 olympics to run. running is my life.
Entry 4 from Kelly
7 years of marriage and 2 kids later, I’ve finally acted on the advice that moms MUST carve out a little time for themselves each day. I started running last year and quickly saw the emotional, mental and physical benefits. My 4-day a week runs (I’m training for a marathon) keep me balanced, make me happy and permit me to be a better mom, wife and woman. They are “MY TIME.” And they are a precious time where all responsibilities and pretenses are stripped away.
I am captivated by what I am learning about myself now that I’m running, and it is this journey to a better understanding of myself that keeps me tieing my laces and heading out that door.
Entry 5 from Lisa
I started running to bond with my husband. I wanted something other than our children and our jobs to talk during date night. It has been the best thing for our marriage. I continue to run because I believe it’s good to be happy with your body.
