Why I Run (not a response to Stafko)

Not that long ago there was an opinion piece on The Wall Street Journal online about self-righteous attention seeking runners. It created a great deal of upheaval in the online running community. There were sarcastic responses and serious responses and some that were uglier than the original poorly written opinion piece that started the whole thing. This is not a response to Mr. Stafko. No, his opinion, which he is certainly welcome to have, simply made me think about why I run because it certainly is not because I am an attention seeking braggart.

Why I run:

I run for me. It has absolutely nothing to do with you at all. I run because big muscle movement is a proven reliever of stress. Big muscles hold tightly to tension in our body. Running allows me to release the stress that builds up from living this gloriously beautifully broken life. When I was a child and I would get angry I'd run. I'd run as fast as I could until I just couldn't run anymore and then I'd feel better. I've learned as an adult a safer healthier way to run so I don't hurt myself but I still run and at times I have bursts of speed that are not about being fast or training but about letting it all go and resetting my mind. I can go about three days successfully before I need a run like a fish needs water. Holding on to stress makes me physically ill. I mean sick enough that one time I had to go to the ER.

I run for my children. It is about health. I want to model a healthy lifestyle to my children. I am not one of those crazy addicted runners that do loony things like leave their infant in a crib alone because they want to go run or they think they have to go run off a cupcake. No. I run to model healthy choices. We talk about ways to manage stress. We talk about the benefits of being active whether it's running, biking, hiking, swimming, playing tag, whatever. Activity is good. Running helps me maintain a healthy weight. A healthy weight reduces my risks that would stress my children and limit my life. I am fully aware that it will not eliminate certain risks and potential illnesses but it certainly has been proven to reduce many health risks.

I run as a challenge. Our bodies are amazing. We don't ask them to do nearly as much as they are designed for on a daily basis with our modern living. I enjoy the challenge. It's a mental challenge as well as a physical challenge. Right now when I hit mile seven my body starts to say "Um, excuse me. I'm not so sure this is all that fun anymore." But that is also when my mind starts to intervene. "Nah, look we are half-way. That means we are almost done! We can do this." And sometimes when I'm just not in that great of a place it just gets reduced to "Honor my God. Model for my children. Inspiration for my friends." It's a thrill to hit a new mile mark or personal best time.

Overall I run because I enjoy it. I get to see the sun set over a pond. I get to see a doe stand in my path and consider me before taking her fawn away to safety. I get to feel the rain on my skin as it mixes with sweat. I get to hear a bear shuffle across my path behind me and race dogs the length of their yard. I get to jump over logs and sprint across road crossings. I get to stretch my legs and for a brief moment get as close to flying as possible without wings. I get to be transported back in time. Remember when we ran because we could, because it was fun and because walking just seemed way to slow and boring because life just had so much for us to discover, experience and explore. I do and that is at the core of why I run.