Why I Love Running
I came across this picture a while back, and it got me thinking about all the things I love about running. As you may remember from my previous posts, I don't really consider myself a "fit chick" meaning that I refuse to buy into the lie that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. I mean, have these people just not heard of cupcakes, or what? I've been "skinny" before, and literally all I could think about was the all delicious foods I was missing out on! 
Even though I'm creeping up on thirty, I'd still rather take shots than do squats, and my idea of a successful work out session is one where we refuel with nachos and margaritas immediately afterwards.
Running is different though.
For me, running is about pushing myself. Not punishing myself.
In a world where people are centered around instant gratification, running is one way I can get that instant high and sense of satisfaction, because when I start my day off with a run, even a short one, I know that if I don't do one other single productive thing all day, I ran. And that is the best feeling in the world. It's kind of like how people say when you write a to-do list for yourself, you should start with one thing you've already accomplished to give yourself that little boost of motivation to tackle the rest.
Besides starting the day off on the right note, here are a couple of other things that motivate me to run:
1) The feeling of accomplishment that comes with being able to rely on my body to do things that I never thought I would, or that others only talk about doing.
2) The scenery (which is why treadmills do not work for me at all!).
2) The scenery (which is why treadmills do not work for me at all!).
3) Fresh air and time to think.
4) A part of that time to think includes getting in touch with tough emotions and processing them in a decidedly more healthy way.
True Story!
6) The bling! Race medals are like crack, I am seriously addicted.
7) Other race swag- Sweet sweatshirts, bumper stickers, temporary tattoos, you name it!
8) Also, the energy of walking around race day and seeing the other runners in their gear and shirts, all wearing the same goofy, exhausted yet elated expressions, carb loading and sporting our post race spoils. There's nothing better.
9) In general race days are like mini vacations. Especially when they include road tripping it over to new city and hotel stays because of super early start times.
10) But the main reason why I run? Because I can!
I remember when I participated in the Hot Chocolate 15K earlier this year, I couldn't stop marveling at how I never could have done something like this 10 years ago. I also found myself reflecting on how had I been able to, my life would have probably gone in a completely different direction.
When I was 17, I joined the Army National Guard in Texas; however while I was in Basic Training, I ended up getting injured. I had sustained bilateral stress fractures in my hips. The fractures were nothing major or super traumatic, but they did prevent me from graduating basic training, continuing my military career and running or doing anything physically strenuous for quite a while afterward.
That's why this race, and others, have been a bittersweet victory for me. On one hand, I am grateful to finally be able to run and finish even if I'm not "the winner", but at the same time, these events are a point of reflection. Over time I've come to terms with the fact that the life of a solider was path obviously were not meant for me. And yet coming back around full circle and it's running, the one thing I despised most, that I've come to embrace.
Fellow runners: please share, why do you run?
When I was 17, I joined the Army National Guard in Texas; however while I was in Basic Training, I ended up getting injured. I had sustained bilateral stress fractures in my hips. The fractures were nothing major or super traumatic, but they did prevent me from graduating basic training, continuing my military career and running or doing anything physically strenuous for quite a while afterward.
That's why this race, and others, have been a bittersweet victory for me. On one hand, I am grateful to finally be able to run and finish even if I'm not "the winner", but at the same time, these events are a point of reflection. Over time I've come to terms with the fact that the life of a solider was path obviously were not meant for me. And yet coming back around full circle and it's running, the one thing I despised most, that I've come to embrace.
Fellow runners: please share, why do you run?
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