My Journey with Running | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

My Journey with Running

From "If I'm running something is chasing me" to "It's a running day, and I don't want to miss it."

241
My Journey with Running
Tirachard Kumtanom

Running and I have always had a complicated relationship. Growing up, I hated running with every fiber of my being. My favorite line to describe how I felt about running was "If you ever see me running you should join me because something is obviously chasing me." I played softball in high school, but that's a sport that requires short bursts of sprinting—definitely not long distance jogging. I absolutely, 100% never believed that I would ever become a runner or even that my opinion about running would change.

And then I went off to college and two and a half years later I wasn't a part of a sports team, wasn't exercising regularly, and was at a weight that I had never thought possible. I hated looking at myself in the mirror, shopping for new clothes, and the number I saw on the scale. So one day, I got completely fed up with my unhappy and sedentary life, and I went to a drastic measure in order to try and change things. I downloaded a running app—the Couch to 5K app to be specific. It was a slow process to be sure. I started out jogging one and a half minutes at a time and walking twice as long for a break. But I was determined that this time was going to be different. I needed it to be different. I was unhappy with my body, anxious about everything, and felt like a failure in several avenues in my life.

So I decided that I was going to be a runner no matter what it took for me to get there. I began following the training program in the app at the beginning of March and to everyone's surprise, I actually stuck to it. Now, I am able to run three miles at once. This is quite literally three times the distance that I could have run at my peak fitness in high school. I have lost inches and pounds and have clothes that fit better now than when I bought them months ago.

Besides the physical manifestations of my hard work, I have found a constructive way to work off my anxious energy, and I have found a thorough enjoyment of running. I love the heat, the sweat, and the exhaustion that my muscles feel when I have finally reached my destination. For the first time in years, I once again feel like I am pushing my body as far as it can go, making myself better every step of the way.

I am still on my weight loss journey, but I'm making strides in the right direction. I know that becoming healthy and getting the body that I want requires more than simply running, but it's an amazing first step for me. I have found a joy and determination at a time and in a way that I had never expected before. I fully believe now that I am a runner. I'm proud of it, and I don't ever want to go back to the life that I lived where I hated running.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

124798
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

27639
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

25779
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments