Why I Run

I did not always want to be a runner. In fact, for my entire life up through 6th grade, I despised running and did everything I could to deny its inevitability in my life path. My mom and dad were both collegiate runners and continued their athletic pursuits into their (relatively) old age. I remember as a young kid they would always make a point to get out the door in the morning in all kinds of weather. For the longest time I could not understand their obsession, almost compulsion, to engage in their daily jogging ritual. Especially given the fact that running is not always the most leisurely activity. Even as someone who has been “infected” by this disease for some time now, I still don’t know exactly what drives me. I do have a few ideas, though. 

 

There’s a well-documented phenomenon that every good runner was once a soccer player, and I was certainly no exception. While I tried out every sport under the sun as a youngster, and ended up finding a knack for soccer in Kindergarten. And I was OK, but as I rose the ranks and joined competitive teams, my mediocrity became more and more exposed. I was hesitant to admit this, but it was true. All the while, my mom and dad (naturally) were gently pushing me to give track a shot. I did not want to be seen as a “nerdy” runner wearing split shorts with a one inch inseam, but in the back of my mind I knew I was (literally) born for this sport. Even my soccer coaches told me so. 

 

Not only was I externally affirmed, but I knew my future aspirations were contingent upon my ability to run. Whether that was getting into a good high school or good college, or even something as simple as making friends. Not to mention my drive to be the best at SOMETHING. Pretty early on I resigned myself to the reality that I am not a jack-of-all-trades, but the sport of distance running made up for this in spades. But I rationalized this by thinking I’d rather be exceptional at one thing than ok or even good at many things. So, soon after I started running, I metaphorically “threw myself into the fire” by taking this passion of mine to the enth degree. 

But, to put it bluntly, that was never in the cards for people. Not just that, but I never even achieved my goal of competing for a Division I college. Or running in college at all. And I soon realized that most people are in the same boat, and that’s ok. 

 

So, you may be asking yourself a few questions? Why does he still bother to make this sport a part of my life after essentially “burning out” from injury and subsequent embarrassment? Why didn’t he go join a Division III college’s track and cross country team if he loves running so much? Simply put, I realized that I was a better individual with running in my life. It was not so much that I love the sport’s role in my life, but rather I loved how the sport positively impacted every other area of living. Going out for a daily jog gives me the self discipline to be a better student. It allows me to clear my ahead and detach myself from the world and all of its stressors, helping me to see situations more clearly. This mental clarity allows me to pour into others more intentionally. And, as much as I love the activity itself, I try to run for others and not so much for myself. Eschewing selfish motivation for (at least, seemingly) altruistic ones helps keep running from consuming my life like it did in high school. People always ask “what are you running from”. The true answer is that I’m running from running itself. 

 

Therefore, I guess you can say I’m a “running evangelist”. And yes, that’s true. I am not going to beat around the bush. The primary purpose of this site is to convince you to give running a shot if you have not already. It has changed my life so profoundly that I cannot help but share one of my deepest loves with the world. I would be remiss not to do so. I understand that running is not everyone’s thing. That’s totally cool. However, I strongly believe that doing something challenging on a daily basis is the best way to catalyze personal growth. In one sense, I am asking you to take my word for it. However, it really goes deeper than that. I hope that you can see my desire to better myself for the sake of others plain and clear in this blog and my day-to-day life. Finding inspiration in the mundanity of it all is the key. It is easy to show off flashy training like many running social media influencers do, but true champions and true passion are formed on the days when there seems to be little reason to go forward. So I encourage you now to peruse this Wix site with curiosity and a writer’s eye. However, more than that, I hope you revisit when you need that reignite that spark to pursue that thing, whatever is, that brings you pleasure through the pain and suffering.