I hate running.

At least that is what I used to tell myself. Besides maybe practicing for a sport, I would never be caught dead running otherwise. It was never my thing while growing up. I preferred to bike or even use the elliptical. When it came to running I could never get the breathing down, or would sike myself out on how far I could actually go. Running basically sucked.

During my sophomore year of college I tried to start running and try to enjoy it. I started with the app Couch to 5K which led me to complete my first 5K race. For a few days there I was on a high and felt accomplished. Slowly though I got aggravated with not being able to push myself farther and finally gave up once the summer heat started rolling around. Needless to say, it was another failed attempt at running and it still sucked.

I do not know why, but for some reason I always wanted to have a love for running. I wanted to be a runner and one-day marathon racer. I could never create a passion for running no matter how badly I wanted to. Junior year of college rolled around and I decided to try the sport once more.

Come September I started to run again. I took baby steps and never ran far nor many times during a week. I struggled at first, but I told myself I would stick to it this time and not give up. I had my rough patches, but after a while it slowly started to become a part of my life. With running it was my time to think and escape. I was able to devote this time to me and actually making myself a better person by not only being healthier but also reflect on myself. Running is so much more than just a sport, but a time to think, escape, and get our bodies moving.

I look forward to my runs now and don't dread having to do it. Don't get me wrong, there are some days I am just not feeling it, but I make sure to come back the following day better than I was before. With running there is always some goal that is able to be reached whether it is with a race, speed, or miles. I am not the fastest runner out there, nor will I ever be, but I still love the runner's high I get afterwards.

I give props to all of the runners out there whether you run marathons or take your baby on a nice stroller run I applaud you. Running is not something everyone does, but I think it is something everyone should at least try. I myself hated running for many of years, but now I go about four to five times a week. Don't worry about being the fastest or how far you need to go, but worry about improving yourself and making small goals that are reachable to actually enjoy the sport.