I love to run.
Ever since I was in high school, running has been a part of my life and a part of me.
It started when I joined the track and cross country teams. My days were filled with long-distance training runs, speed drills and track meets.
At the starting line for the 400 meters, one of the distances I raced in high school. (Please excuse the blurriness! This is a very old photo from the pre-digital age!)
But as much as it was a part of my life, I didn’t always love to run.
In high school, it was out of necessity. I had to train for my next race, or as the captain of the team my senior year set a good example for my younger teammates.
Running in the Port Washington Turkey Trot in high school. My friends thought I was crazy.
But in college, running started to click for me because now it was a choice. And it was something my body was itching to do, even when my mind came up with plenty of excuses to keep me on the couch.
Most of the time, my body won out. So much so that I started training for my first marathon.
The best part of that entire experience was the long training runs when I would pound the pavement on back country roads.
My boyfriend at the time had a dog named Moab. He’d follow me on most of these runs. I know it might sound strange, but traversing the woods and mountainous terrain of New Hampshire, with just a dog and the sound of my breath and footsteps to keep me company, felt like a spiritual experience. I found my religion. And that’s when I fell in love with running.
Getting ready for my first marathon in Burlington, Vermont
Of course, finishing my first marathon was gratifying. Incredible really.
Near the finish line of my first marathon
But what stuck with me was all of the miles I put in to get to the finish line. All of the hard work, dedication, and the prioritizing of running over almost everything else, except for my studies. Lacing up my shoes became a daily ritual that I looked forward too.
Running through the woods
Running is a Metaphor for Life
Now that I’m in my forties with temperamental knees, half marathons are more my speed than 26.2 miles.
But over the past twenty years, life has thrown me many proverbial races that have challenged me to my core. When that has happened, when I have felt like there is no way to fix this problem or make this situation better, I think about running.
Related: Exercise: My Secret Weapon When I’m Feeling Down
I think about all of the hills I have leaned into; the long training runs with friends when we hashed out our life’s problems; and the times I have been in a race and pushed harder than I thought possible, to achieve a new personal record. But most of all, I think about all of those times when I’ve hated running. When my mind has told me over and over again to just quit, but somehow my legs kept moving, my feet kept taking step after step, and my body ran through my doubt and negativity. (Our bodies are so much smarter than we give them credit for!)
Though my mind often has me convinced that I can’t take another step, running has taught me to persevere. And so it is for life as well.
Running has proved to me that we are resilient. If we persevere and stay in the race, there’s always a way to get to that real or figurative finish line.
It might not be the path I thought I was going to take. There might be more hills to climb then I was expecting. And it might be a longer race than I thought I signed up for.
But now I know, in life and racing, the reward for a more challenging course is a more meaningful journey, and for sure, a more gratifying and sweet taste of victory at the finish line.
And that’s why I love to run.
Related: 3 tips to get you started with exercising at home
Related: My top picks for affordable, at-home work out gear
Curious to know more about running? Check out two of my favorite books on the subject: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall and Shut Up and Run by Robin Arzon, one of Peloton’s most popular fitness instructors.
And if you’re interested in buying some new running gear, my go-to sneakers for the past 10 years have been Asics. I swear by them! You can also head to Jack Rabbit where they will give you a full assessment of how you run plus recommendations for the best sneakers for you.
Do You Love Running Too?
Now I’d love to hear from you.
Are you’re a total newbie to running or a veteran?
How do you feel when you lace up your shoes?
Whether you’re getting ready to take your first steps as a runner, or you’re a marathoner who has hit your stride, I hope my thoughts about running inspire you to tackle all of the figurative and literal races that life throws your way.
Because if there is one beautiful thing I’ve learned from running, it’s that there’s only one way to the finish line. And that’s by doing the work, entering the race, and putting one foot in front of the other.
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