I wasn’t a runner as a kid. I mean, I ran around and played and did the yearly track & field day, etc. but I didn’t run just because I liked running. Entering 9th grade, my parents said I had to join a sport. I didn’t have to be great at it, I just needed to participate and do my best. I didn’t know how to play soccer, was terrible at tennis, volleyball, and basketball. A friend of mine was signing up for cross-country, so I joined. All you needed was shoes. Check.
I ran cross-country for the next 3 years. I was never good, but I was never last. I always finished in the last half of the pack. But I learned how to run, and train for distance running. I never knew what a useful life skill it would turn out to be. As a teen, I ran because I was required to do something. As an adult, I have run for so many more reasons.
I run because focusing on what my body can do instead of how it looks has helped me to slowly repair years of damaging thought patterns and disordered eating and exercising.
I run to combat anxiety. When anxiety rears its ugly head, running helps burn off the noise in my head– the fears, the worries, the “what ifs,” the anger, and the stress. It’s sometimes the only thing that will make my head shut up.
I ran after both of my miscarriages, pounding out my grief, anxiety, and depression with each mile. Reaching goals and running races helped me to focus on something else, instead of what I couldn’t control.
I run because sometimes people and situations are stressful and frustrating, and throwing things is frowned upon.
I run to do something just for me. Sure, sometimes I take my bigger two along on their bikes and my youngest in the stroller, but I really love to run by myself. Just me and the quiet, or sometimes with my favorite music. Running is one of the very very few things that I do just for me.
I run for my kids. I want to show them that you don’t have to be the best at something to enjoy it. I want them to see that being active is important at every stage of life. I want them to see that with hard work, you can reach that big goal. I want to teach them about not giving up, even when it’s really really hard, and you’re really really tired.
I run because I like to be outside, especially in the quieter times of the morning or evening. There’s so much to appreciate outside, and it never gets boring.
I run to problem-solve. While I do my best thinking in the shower, I work through tough problems running. Running helps burn away the feelings surrounding a problem and allows me to see what the root issue really is.
I run to remind myself that I can do hard things. I can work toward and accomplish goals that I make for myself. I can push myself, and push past the wall. I can be exhausted and my legs and lungs might burn, but I won’t die. There’s such a sense of accomplishment to face a tough challenge, push through, and finish what I started. It feels pretty great to look back and say, “That was tough, but I did it. I can do the next thing too.”
So what’s your thing? Maybe you bike, or sing, or paint. Perhaps you burn off the stress by zooming on your motorcycle, doing strength training, or taking the dog for an extra-long walk. Maybe yoga is your thing or swimming laps. Everyone needs something (or many somethings!) that help their mind and body get into a better place. Leave your thing in the comments!
