Why I Love to Run

     If some of you may know, I'm a runner. Maybe not the best one ever, but I'm one nonetheless- and I absolutely love everything about it (which is probably why I talk about it so much, so sorry for being super annoying at times). I thought today would be a great time to talk about how running has shaped and changed my life, considering track season just started this week.
     First of all, running has made me stronger. Whether it be physically, or mentally, I owe all of the strength I have gained in the past few months to running. Running has not only strengthened my legs, heart, and core tremendously, but it has also strengthened me mentally as well. I run distance- which is all mental. In order to run three miles or more without stopping, I had to learn the hard way. I'm not the strongest person physically, and I have really bad asthma. So, for me, getting through a long run requires everything I have. It's not the highlight of my day at times, in fact my first week of practice during cross country season I remember crying. A lot. Practicing everyday relentlessly has helped me figure out how to find that motivation to keep going in hard times: whether it be a 10k run, or something totally not related to running. I had to push through that pain every single day to get better, and I am so thankful I learned this skill when I did.
     Also, running is like therapy to me. Whenever I'm training, or just jogging my base mileage, I pour a lot of my emotions into getting through the run as best I can. In the end, I feel like my mind and body was washed down, and I'm very relaxed. Running serves as a great distraction too, so if I ever have a bad day I go for a run because I forget about all of the bad moments I've experienced prior. Running in nature is the best when it comes to this, because being around beautiful forests and lakes makes me feel at home wherever I am.
     One more thing I love about running is that because of it, I am able to set goals and follow through with them. I remember the first practice I attended in the summer, it was one of the captains practices and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I never ran with anyone before that, so keeping up with people was an extra pressure added on top of being the only freshman there. I ran with a few of my now really good friends, and I'm so thankful to have had them by my side that day. Without Maria, Becca and Madeline, I never would have gotten through that course. After that day, I set a goal for myself to be able to at least run a 5k. I did not care whether I stopped during it, or even if I dropped dead at the finish line. I worked hard everyday to strengthen my body, and at the end of the season, I must have shaved minutes off of my time from that captain's practice to the last race I had. I felt so driven that whole season, and regardless of all of the rough practices and workouts, I was so proud of making it through the season.
     I am so glad I picked up running as a sport, and a lifestyle. Running distance is difficult, but it's taught me skills that I will use forever, and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.