Why I Run

A friend used to explain in campus tours that when you get to college, you start seeing skinny people running all the time. You can't help but notice the correlation and want it for yourself. So, like half of the city of La Crosse, I tried running. I absolutely hated it. It was boring and hard. My face turned bright red as soon as I started, and I couldn't go a mile without huffing and puffing. Running made me this insta-ugly big bad wolf character who felt pretty helpless.

I stuck with it though, and somewhere along the line, it stopped making me miserable. Then I became busy though. I started teaching and felt guilty spending time running or at the Y, when there was always so much more I should be doing for students. My plan to workout every day failed, and I didn't feel great about my body. So, I set a goal to run a 5k and 5 mile race, to force myself to start putting time into myself. I achieved the goal and set a new one.

Now, I workout almost every day and totally love it.

Instead of feeling guilty about it, when school is stressing me out or I don't think I'm enough, I run to relax and give my brain time to over analyze everything. I'm convinced that being calm, happy, healthy, and proud makes me a stronger individual, and thus a better teacher.

When I've had a great day and am totally loving my life, the run is a celebration. It actually becomes more of a dance to whatever Pandora comes up with. I grin from ear to ear like the complete dork I am.

When I haven't been running as much, I run twice as far as I think I can to make up for the other days.

If I've run a great distance the week before, I run even farther because I know my body can do it.

And I run because I really really really love to eat.

When I love my body, I run to love it even more.

On days when I don't love my body, I run to remember what's important. I don't need to be a size 2. I'm convinced that if I'm eating food that nourishes my body, and my legs can carry me 7 miles at a steady jog, love handles aren't a big deal. I am healthy because of what I'm doing and what my body can do.

I also run for the numbers. I know that I'm capable of increasing my long run distance 10% each week. To not do so would be selling myself short. So, if my RunKeeper says I'm closing in on home under my goal, I better take a few turns around the block to make up for it. At the gym, some people cover the display, for me, it's the best motivator.

I run for my goals. I met my 5k and 5 mile goal, and have a 10k scheduled for June. I want my next goal to be a half marathon, but haven't set a date for it yet. Life might get in the way of that, but I'll do my best to make it happen.

I run because it makes me love who I am and what I can do.