“Okay ladies, 65 minutes run today. Your pace is an 8-minute mile. Start your watches”. I can remember the words from my high school cross country coach like it was yesterday. Although my body was conditioned for long runs, I still moaned at the thought of running 8 miles.
My love for running was discovered during my first track season that I joined my freshman year of high school. Within two weeks of practicing, my legs ached in pain. I had shin splints that made every muscle in my lower legs feel like they were on fire. My hips and lower back cried for a daily massage from my mom, and my lungs felt like they were suffocating during every daily practice. But, even after all of that, I somehow loved it.
The next fall of my sophomore year, I was to be found running with the girls’ cross country team. I trained hard and had a surprisingly successful season. During my winter and summer off-seasons, I was dedicated to running nearly six from our coaches to run a certain amount of miles prior to the next season to stay in shape, but that’s not why I did it. I did it because I craved it every day. It soon became a part of me.
It wasn’t too long until I found myself at doctor’s offices every now and then with a new injury. Tendonitis in my left foot and a stress fracture in my right hip along with a tear in my labrum were just a few of the setbacks. But, they couldn’t stop me. I would obey the instructions from the doctor (no running) for about a maximum of two weeks before I found myself trying to limp my way through a run.
For me, running is my escape, release, and therapy. It’s the only way I can work through my stressors and release any tension or frustrations of mine. It’s the best way for my to clear my head and gather myself. It keeps me balanced and focused.
Running is a great way for people to maintain physical health and get stronger. For me, it is a way to stay mentally strong and healthy, too. My greatest ideas are more times than not discovered during a run, and my biggest frustrations and anxieties are worked through every pounding step I take.
Every run isn’t always easy for me either. Some days I have aches or I am unmotivated and don’t feel like moving. But it’s a challenge for me, and a way to compete against myself. It’s a love/hate relationship, and I can’t imagine my life without it.
