Why I Run and Why I Am Writing About It

Why am I spending time writing a post for you to read?
Why am I a runner and why do I feel the need to share this information with you? Easy. I am a runner because my body craves it and I can't go a day without knowing I am doing something to better myself. Why am I sharing this? Because running helped me to find myself and I hope it can be an aid for you as well.

I ran for four years in high school--give or take a few seasons due to injuries but that is besides the point. I started running because I knew I could do it and I didn't make the swim team. Sounds like a few lame reasons right? I grew up in Virginia and spent my summers swimming but when we moved it all came to an end due to lack of funds. I loved swimming and my summers would not have been the same without it. The cross country team was basically walk on my freshman year. My mom looked at me in the car on the way home from my rejection from the swim team and said "You need to run, I know you are going to love it." Quick back story: my mother is a runner. She ran the Marine Corp.  Marathon--which I remember only little blurbs of that race-- and she continued to run throughout my life. I always looked up to her for that and assumed that since she did it then it must be in my blood so I must be able to do it too. So I joined the team. I made friends, ran races, hated practice, and loved the feeling of accomplishment. Even though it brought along many injuries, I loved it and enjoyed the fun it brought me in high school.

College rolled around and I decided I was over the whole "running thing." Why bother? Who has time for that anyways? MISTAKE! When I came home for winter break I had gained just about thirty pounds. I was always skinny and petite, so this was hard for me. I didn't fit into my clothes, I developed self confidence issues, and I started to grow envious of all the girls who didn't gain a pound and looked perfect. I knew that I needed to change! A friend of mine told me that she had ran a half-marathon and loved the experience! She told me she was in the best shape, physically and mentally. This was something that I not only wanted, but needed to do! I opened my computer, transferred over a hundred dollars, and that was that. My mom helped me find a training plan and every day from February to September I ran my a** off!

The pounds slowly drifted away--it took me until August entering into my Junior Year to be at my goal weight-- but I learned so much about myself from the experience. Weight cannot be ripped off or disappear in 24 hours. Its a process! This long and slow process wasn't easy for my self-esteem. I had to teach myself to love me and push myself to achieve what I wanted.

Me, now. Starting the summer before my senior year. I am still at my goal weight--I have a new goal which is nice abs, tight butt, and toned legs--but those are just my body goals. My personal goal is to continue to love and accept myself. Having self-love isn't easy, but running taught me how to do that and continues to remind me everyday how great of a person I really am. I get 40-60 minutes of just thinking and getting lost in my thoughts. I have PR goals which I have crushed every time, and have completed four half-marathons (plus a ton of other fun races) and am now on my way to my first, and only, marathon. I have friends who I have gotten closer with because they want to change too--we bond over the stress of not eating the cake that we are desperately craving, then we bond over the fact that a day later we ate the entire cake, and even better, we bond over working together convincing each other that we need to run when we would rather take a nap and/or quit school! Everyday I have a chance to better myself--and I remind myself that when I don't want to move! Everyday is a new opportunity. Thank you running for giving me confidence, for taking my stress away while I am in school--and giving me that solid GPA-- and for always being there for a little detox and/or accomplishing moment that I need to push me through the day!