I always wanted to be a runner.

You know, one of those girls that runs seven miles a day, acting like it's nothing while you can see the endorphins pumping through her veins.

But whenever I got on the treadmill, I found myself watching the seconds go by, never able to find a song to motivate me to run as long or as hard as I wished. The gym became a place I dreaded visiting but forced myself to anyway because I knew I would feel accomplished after the act, even if I felt miserable during it. I waited for that "addiction" to running I had heard so much about but never seemed to find. I was never able to grasp that feeling that every true runner described getting while they ran, so I gave up on the possibility of attaining it.

Coming to Wake Forest, I had heard about the beautiful Reynolda trails. Stretching for miles, the wooded paths surround you with trees and breathtaking scenery. Once you get past the cute collection of shops known as Reynolda Village, a path covered in wood chips begins, begging you to run over them. Unfortunately, I had never ventured to these trails before second semester, but now I've found myself making time every day to run or walk along them. Running on those trails, being engulfed by the forest, is something I've never found or experienced in exercise before. Being surrounded by nature and having the ability to unplug from the anxiety-provoking world we live in is just what I need to ease my mind.

Discovering these trails has given me an entirely new perspective on the aspect of exercise in my life. Instead of carving out a block of time to do a mindless activity that I dread, I've transformed running into a time for reflection and a way to escape the stress many of us face daily. Before finding these trails, I thought of exercise as just a way to stay in shape, but now I use it as time to make the anxious thoughts and feelings disappear.

So, reader, this is what I have to say to you: If you're one of those people who, like me, dread making that trip to the gym-- stop going. Tie up your laces and walk outside, running in the sunshine and watching the beautiful landscape around you. Ditch the machine and weight-filled rooms for a breath of fresh air where you can clear your head and take time to yourself.

I'm sure you'll feel the "addiction" soon enough.