I run ...

Yesterday was the official start of training for the Chicago marathon. I am both excited and nervous about the training. Excited because it's my first full marathon and because getting back into training over the past few months has made me really happy. Nervous because I'm already in physical therapy for ankle/calf injuries and now my knee has started bothering me again. Frustrating. Getting old (or older than 8 years ago when I trained for my first half marathon anyway!) is not fun; this is going to take a lot of time, effort, dedication. I might start logging the number of hours I spend doing things other than running -- ie. stretching and icing -- that will be necessary components of my "training" in order to cross the finish line. It won't be insignificant. Oh well. Most rewarding and satisfying things in life don't come without hard work and determination.

Of course, motivation can be a big help, and I know I will need a LOT of it during the next 26 weeks! I'm training with Chicago Fit and a recent weekly newsletter inspired me. Our coaches were asked to complete the sentence "I run ...." and their quotes/responses were shared in the newsletter. I started thinking about the many reasons I have chosen to run over the past 18 years. I'm actually a little alarmed that it has been 18 years. Freshman year of high school was a long time ago! Over those years, there have been long stretches when I didn't run at all; periods when I ran very leisurely, never running more than 5 miles at a time or entering a race; and periods where running/training was a main focus. Most aspects of my life today are very different than 18 years ago, and there aren't many things that were constant over those years. But I still run. Which is ironic because when I started, I didn't like it, and over the past 8-10 years, it as landed me in physical therapy every time I have decided to train for a race of longer distance than a 10k. So why DO I run?

Each week for the next 26 weeks of training, I'll post a reason. Some reasons will be simple and funny, and some will be introspective. Something to think about for the week and provide extra motivation when I need it during training runs (ummm .. or to get me up and out of bed at 5 am for a workout!). Join me for my journey & please add comments about why you run/workout/etc. I would love to hear from you!


I run ...

I run because I have never NOT felt better - physically, mentally, emotionally - after a run.