Running, Why Do You Do It?

Ask any runner why they run and chances are each one will tell you a different reason. Honestly, I sometimes run each run for a different reason. So when someone asks me why I run, well, it's not an easy question for me to answer. Personally for me, it's a complicated one. And the longer I run, the more running defines me, and the more I define my running, the more the two become intertwined. 

I will never run Boston. I don't really have a desire too. Do I want to break a 5 hour marathon? (Yes, very bad). Do I want to break the 2 hour mark for a Half? (So bad that I can taste it). Why? I mean I won't ever 'win' the race. The chances of me ever even placing in my age group are very slim. So why do I push myself so hard to try to reach a 'timed goal'. Because.... whether it's good or bad, I am very competitive. For this reason, I have always pushed myself hard in group classes at the gym verses working out solo. "Hmmm, she thinks she's going to out rep me, well I don't think so skinny girl in the corner". This is how my mind works. 
I remember my first run. It was when I lived in the South and this very fit girl was always running. I mean always. So I thought "hmmm.. if she can do it so can I". And I put on some gym workout gear and off I went. I knew that she ran a fairly long distance so I said I could too. Let's just say it was an out and back route. And I kept going 'out' way past the point of where I needed to turn around. By the time I turned to come back, I thought I was going to die.. this was it.. how I was going to go... beside a busy street... 
Way too far from home, I jogged/walked/shuffled my way back to my apartment. First I was mad because she made it look so easy. And then I was even more angry that I couldn't do it. So I went out again, and again and again until I was able to run farther and a little faster. Oh, don't get me wrong.. I never caught up to the girl's abilities. To this day I am not the runner that she is, but my competitive nature pushed me to push myself. 
There is a downside though (to being so competitive). I often get discouraged that so and so is faster than me. So and so can easily run X distance and X pace, and I'm still where I am. So there is a balance to being competitive. 
But I set goals for myself to push myself, to improve, and to become a better me. That's one cool thing about running is that you have the ability to set your own personal goals and milestones. 
So I ask you, Why do you do it? Why did you start running? Why do you continue? It's helpful sometimes to stop and ask ourselves these questions. Search our inner soul. Re-group, re-charge, re-fresh and re-define we who are in our running.