Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Why do I run? I am by definition a “runner”. It is a label that I am proud to wear.
When I was in MS, I ran mainly just for exercise and for the social aspect. I would meet my best friend every weekday and at least one day on the weekend and we would run. It was our time - time that we both cherished. - time that I still greatly miss.
When I moved to PA, I wasn’t prepared to feel the loss that I felt. I was married with a loving husband. I didn’t expect to feel such a loss at leaving my friends, especially my best friend, and my family.
When I first moved here, I put off running for a little while. I was getting used to my surroundings and honestly I just didn’t want to do it - not alone. But I knew I had to get back out there. I would leave the house crying, often angry. I would end those short runs crying telling my husband that it was awful and I just wasn’t going to do it anymore. I put my husband through a lot during those times.
But running had changed for me. Gone were the days of running with my best friend on those early mornings. My reason for running was gone - other than the weight gain. But running to simply lose weight wasn’t enough to keep me out there. But when I didn’t run, I knew something was missing - part of me was missing. It took me some time to figure out just what that something was.
To get that part of myself back, I pushed through running alone. My runs were short in distance, but I was still out there. I was running.
Running helps define me. It’s the battle of overcoming obstacles, whether mental or physical. It’s the will to keep going when everything wants to quit. It’s the feeling of accomplishment knowing that I set a goal and completed it. It’s finding out just how strong I really am. So why do I run? I run because running is simply part of who I am.
When I was in MS, I ran mainly just for exercise and for the social aspect. I would meet my best friend every weekday and at least one day on the weekend and we would run. It was our time - time that we both cherished. - time that I still greatly miss.
When I moved to PA, I wasn’t prepared to feel the loss that I felt. I was married with a loving husband. I didn’t expect to feel such a loss at leaving my friends, especially my best friend, and my family.
When I first moved here, I put off running for a little while. I was getting used to my surroundings and honestly I just didn’t want to do it - not alone. But I knew I had to get back out there. I would leave the house crying, often angry. I would end those short runs crying telling my husband that it was awful and I just wasn’t going to do it anymore. I put my husband through a lot during those times.
But running had changed for me. Gone were the days of running with my best friend on those early mornings. My reason for running was gone - other than the weight gain. But running to simply lose weight wasn’t enough to keep me out there. But when I didn’t run, I knew something was missing - part of me was missing. It took me some time to figure out just what that something was.
To get that part of myself back, I pushed through running alone. My runs were short in distance, but I was still out there. I was running.
Running helps define me. It’s the battle of overcoming obstacles, whether mental or physical. It’s the will to keep going when everything wants to quit. It’s the feeling of accomplishment knowing that I set a goal and completed it. It’s finding out just how strong I really am. So why do I run? I run because running is simply part of who I am.
Love this. The last paragraph is totally me. Can't wait until I can run again!
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