When I talk to people about my quest to run farther and faster, both runners and non-runners ask "Why?" I don't mind - it's a good question. Depending on my mood, I have several stock responses.
Some are profound:
"Because I can"
"To test my limits"
"To connect with nature"
Some are smart-ass:
"Because it's faster than walking"
"Because I can't fly"
"Because it's cheaper than therapy"
While there is truth to all of these answers, none of them explain completely why I run. I don't think I even really know the full reason. It has a little to do with the physical: I usually feel good during a run, I feel fantastic afterward, and I feel like crap when I take time off. It has a little to do with the mental: I can gather my thoughts and work through problems (I wrote most of my thesis during runs). And it has a lot to do with the emotional: running has helped me heal after the difficult events in my adult life, from my mom's heart surgery to complicated relationships.
While part of my desire to run very long distances has to do with wanting to achieve things few others can, mostly I run for myself.
Now, why do you run?
3 comments:
Here's my reason... Kind of "dark"... but here goes...
It was when a family member that died of nothing more than a life of gluttony I realized that person laying in the box will never be remembered for what he put into his body, he will be remembered for what he pulled out of it.
When you look at an obituary, you see words like "Seth was a father. A former boxer. A secretary at a law firm." People are remembered for what they took out of themselves and applied to something or someone.
Running was a choice I made in order to apply myself to something. Its a small addition to my obituary, but it's a start. I run because I'm not ready to make babies or turn into Rambo or anything.
Molly.. send me an e-mail so I can better answer your question. :)
Sherpajohn@gmail.com
Sherpa John
I don't run... but I get it.
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