Asking a person why he or she runs is an interesting question and the answer reveals much about the person. Some people say its because they want to lose weight or stay in shape, which is an admirable reason to run and the determination to see it through is worth some respect. Other people in the racing circuit say it’s because of the opportunities it affords them which can be a noble endeavor if done with the right mindset. Then there are those of us, who I am hopelessly guilty of being a one of, who run simply because we love it. We love it oh so much. Now asking someone why they love something is a bit of an overwhelming question. At once, a million answers come to mind, but none of them seem sufficient. It’s only with some deeper thought that one can get an answer which truly captures the depth of your feeling which goes beyond the unhelpful "I just love it."
There are number of reasons that running has established a hold over my heart that grows stronger with every passing year. First, the very nature of running lends itself to any character or temperament, whether one prefers the company of the pack or to strike out as a lone wolf. For me, the latter has always held the greater allure, although the former does hold a special place in my heart at times. There is something deeply appealing to me in striking out alone on the open trail with just my thoughts and an iPod for company. On the run, when your body finally settles into a rhythm and the miles just seem to slip by, your mind stretches out into a limitless creative frontier where anything becomes possible. It's a difficult state of being to describe to a layman with no experience of it. But the closest I can come, is to say that it is like everything just clicks together, ideas just flow out in a natural progression that builds upon itself as it feeds on the run. It’s like being caught in an exceptionally powerful daydream that’s never felt clearer to you.
The pursuit of this state of being has made running a popular activity with writers who chase this state as the tool to cracking whatever creative hurdle they are currently stuck upon. Moments such as these are also what lend running to function as a powerful tool of introspection, which is among my favored uses. Though it’s less common with pack running, a small group can also produce these moments in the form of deep conversations.
Another thing that stands out to me, and marks my love of running, is my love of runners as people. Runners are among the nicest people I've ever met in any sport or profession. There exists a certain easy camaraderie amongst runners, a shared sense of hardship and effort that unites us in understanding each other regardless of team or personal rivalry. Though I cannot speak for all sports, I've never witnessed any other sport with a similar attitude or temperament. There are some things which are simply known across the running world, such as the struggles of a long run or the stress of workout day. There is also much to be loved about the every day acts of politeness of runners as they go about the world wishing every pedestrian they meet a friendly "Good morning" or "Excuse me."
Perhaps what I love most about running is what I believe it has given me. Running, like any sport, does not come without sacrifice and she can be a particularly harsh mistress. She demands a great tribute of blood sweat and toil to see the fruits of your labor come to fruition. For those, such as myself, who try to be competitive your self-esteem is often on the chopping block. But in return for this great commitment of time and energy there are a multitude of rewards. On the surface are the purely physical, the strength and fitness one gets from completing workouts and the physique and endurance one gets for running uncountable miles, but this is just the start.
Going a bit deeper are the relationships one builds running. There are few better times to strike up a conversation and build a bond then when on a long run with miles to go before you rest and nothing but time to kill. The inevitable adventures and hijinks that follow when one is out traveling on the run or for a competition also provide memorable experiences between friends. For me personally, two of my best friends I met running on the same team together and I've experienced many more memorable experiences with my teammates past and present.
Then there are coaches one meets and follows in running. They come in all manner of styles and temperaments from warm and sunny to the gruff and distant, but spending time together builds a lasting and often times surprising bond. As they spend time observing you and you spend time building a trust in their judgment, you come to an understanding of each other. You eventually reach a point where a few good words from your coach can make all the difference in how you think of a race.
In addition there are the deeper but less obvious changes in character that running leaves you with. It’s often remarked that long distance running has a knack for instilling discipline in individuals and I will personally attest to this claim. Running also instills a sort or resilience in athletes as it requires a fair amount of determination to push through a spell of bad races, or workouts, or God forbid, an injury. And yet you find a way to push through it no matter how many times it pushes you down.
Lastly one of running’s great gifts is a certain feeling of self-confidence and satisfaction. It’s difficult to describe the feeling of successfully completing a difficult workout or having a great performance in a competition. It’s the feeling that one has reached their potential, that anything could be within their capabilities and that the goal which seemed to be impossibly out of reach suddenly becomes achievable. It brings with it the feeling that one is, doing something special, something which most people chose not do. For these and countless more reasons, I have fallen in love with running and shall continue to pursue this love.