My Dearest Running Shoes,

Where do I begin? Our love affair isn’t like the others. With you, it wasn’t love at first sight or some whirlwind romance. Actually, the first time I was told that I had to wear you, there was a lot of complaining involved. You weren’t a pair of ruby slippers to take me home or some glass shoes that would bring me my Prince Charming. Instead of leading me to a happily ever after, you foretold the bodily exhaustion of the upcoming run and my inevitable doom. Needless to say, I did not see a future relationship with you.

After much protest and visions of ice cream, I slipped you on, counting down the minutes until I could take you off again. I tied your laces, took a deep breath, and started what would be our first date. No, you didn’t bring me flowers and no, we didn’t go to a fancy restaurant, but that first date on the high school track began a relationship that has changed the course of my entire life.

To this day, you have been my most constant relationship. You have seen me graduate high school and take on the adventures of college. You have picked me up when I was down and been my escape when I needed to lose myself for an hour or two. You have been there for me at the highest of my highs and the lowest of my lows. Whether sad, stressed, excited or anxious, you are there for me. You keep me calm, relaxed and remind me that no matter what, I will get through this and it will all be okay.

You stood by me when I thought that I was done with you. Mentally exhausted of running and the pressures that can come with it, I put you in my closet, feeling tired of you and the sport. Thank you for still being there some time later, when I dusted you off and fell in love with you all over again. You reminded me that when it comes to you and running, I have to do it for myself and not anyone else. Now, every time I tie up those laces, I am grateful for the comfort and relief you bring me and promise myself to not lose sight of that again.

Thank you for pushing me and for teaching me more about myself than I could have imagined. Thank you for the runs where the pace becomes faster and the miles become longer. You have gotten me through runs in the blistering heat and the downpour of rain. You and I have been covered in blisters and plastered in mud. We have seen treadmills, roads, trails and hills. I have learned to set goals because of you. I have learned that with diligence and determination, I could not only achieve those goals, but break them down with a wrecking ball. Thank you for teaching me the essence of hard work and perseverance. I am stronger, better and tougher because of you.

Most of all, thank you for teaching me some of life’s most critical lessons. I have learned patience through you and to never give up. You have taught me to be softer, kinder and more courageous. No matter what seems to be the issue in my life, I have learned that there is nothing that a long run and a fresh perspective can’t fix. Even on the days when the last thing that I want to do is put you on and run, as soon as I begin those first couple of strides, you remind me of how important you are.

So thank you for that first date on the high school track and for all of the dates since then. Yes, they may be as early as dawn or as late as dusk, but I promise to keep them every day. Thank you, running shoes, for the endless sweat, blood, tears, miles and pure joy that you have brought me. Now, let’s go do what we do best. Let's go run.

Love,

Your most grateful marathon runner