Running

A little less than a year ago, I was watching this video on youtube http://youtu.be/8eXqAWjJ_dE, trying to find some training motivation.  After watching it a couple of times, I remember trying to define exactly why I run, and I could never really figure it out.  There were definitely ideas in my head, but I couldn’t put it together, for some reason.

I had stepped away from running for a while, but came back to it about a year ago as part of my effort to find the path of overall mental and physical fitness.  Yesterday, I went for a run in the rain, which used to be (and still is) one of my favorite things in the world.  I felt really terrible yesterday, so I decided to make it just a short run to get my blood flowing and hopefully clear the fuzz from my head.  Months ago, I bought a crappy pair of Saucony shoes that I wear without socks—they are super lightweight and make me feel like a kid again—and I was wearing these yesterday as I ran a familiar 2.6 mile route that tops out and plateaus about a mile in, to overlook acres and acres of farmland that reminded me of home, in Montana.  At that moment, memories that spanned years of running came flooding back to me.

Running home from school, pretending to beat Carl Lewis.

Running against my classmates in elementary school, trying to win to impress my dad.

The first time I ever ran the 800 meter race, in seventh grade, and finding what I had been missing.

The first time I broke a five minute mile.

Running way too fast with my friend Colby, determined not to let him beat me on a training run.

Puking my guts out at state track after running the fastest mile of my life up to that point.

The water droplets from the freshly rained-on track being flung into my face from the spikes of the other runners during the 3200m.

The home track meet my senior year in high school and the 4x400m relay.

Running against my brother Paul and my friend Jody in Bozeman and Paul beating me.

The euphoric, sick rush to the head after running intervals.

Running in the dead of winter with Jess, and painting a huge mental target on his back.

Running with my dad at Thanksgiving after having left for college.

Me and Paul curing ourselves and sharing thoughts during a run on the beach in California.

Running against my little brother Sam in Montana and realizing he can beat me.

The 12 miler in the rain with my friend Grant after my birthday.

The nothing-like-it feeling of opening my stride and feeling like I am flying. 

Coming back into focus with myself on March 14, 2011.

Every single time I have ever run in the rain, connected to every other time I have ever run in the rain.

I run because every aspect of my life, for better or worse, whether or not I have wanted it to be, is associated with running.  I run to stay connected to my past, my memories, and everyone I love.  I run because it is me, and I don’t want to lose myself.  As one of the comments on that youtube video says, “I run because for every human being who lives to see that moment, there will be a time when you will want to give everything you have just to be able to run once more.”

Watching this video really helped me define my motivations, and I immediately laced up my shoes and headed out the door after watching it.  I hope it does the same for you.  Enjoy!