10 Things I LOVE About Running
So I just saw an article on MSN titled, “Ten Most Beautiful Things in Sports.” I’m going to do a bit of a variation on this because unlike the article (which included golfing, baseball, and football moments) I can relate to it. It’s in no particular order; I don’t think I can really rank these things. So here it goes:
- A feeling of accomplishment. No matter how long or short, fast or slow I run, I always feel good after a workout. Not necessarily physically good, but emotionally. It feels good to be able to tell people how much you ran, whether it is 1, 5, or 10 miles.
- An early morning/late night run. I usually tend to run really late or really early into the day. One morning before my anatomy class I went for a run at 5 in the morning with a friend. I thought it was crazy, but somehow she talked me into it. We went to the lake and right on cue we watched the most amazing sunrise. Just to see the sunrise I went running that early a few times. I also love to see sunsets. At my house in Mukwonago, I’ve found the perfect time for running. My family eats late dinners so I run around 7. By the time I get home the sun has started to set, and I run to the to the top of the hill on my street and get an amazing view of the sunset over this farm field. It is amazing.
- Running is my outlet. Going for my runs is the one time of the day where i have no worries. I can work out my daily frustrations and get some alone-time. It also gives me a chance to think things over without interruption. And if I don’t want to think about things I can just blast my music and try to forget about whatever is worrying me.
- Runner’s high. I do believe that there is such a thing as a “runner’s high.” I sometimes get in this mode where I just run. I don’t really notice any pain or fatigue. I just run. Of course the soreness catches up with me later, but while I’m running and I feel like this, it’s just great.
- Runners are the friendliest people you’ll meet. Whether you are getting ready for a cross-country meet, or just jogging down the street, I have found that runners are the nicest people around. I remember in high school talking to my fellow competitors before the mile run at a track meet. everyone was chatting like old friends and before the race started everyone was wishing the other luck. Although it can be competitive runners share a sort of camaraderie. I have seen this whenever I run, from on the cross-country course, to running around my neighborhood. Runners are just friendly.
- Running talks. When I do run with other people, you can talk about the most random things. Sometimes it’s serious, and sometimes it’s just plain silly, either way it is completely acceptable. I have had conversations ranging from relationships troubles to making up absurd/silly songs. What I am trying to say is that while running with others the conversation is never boring.
- It never gets boring. When I speak of running, I don’t think about running on treadmills. I love to run outside. I love being able to choose different routes, explore the area, and do different workouts. This past summer I have been able to explore the countryside and have found some great places to run. Whether I’m running past farmland or huge houses, I love the scenery and love being able to try out new courses and see what lies ahead.
- Music. Running with music is something that I’ve just started recently. Moving to Mukwonago, I’ve been stuck running by myself often. I started bringing my ipod with me. I’ve made various running playlists with songs that are upbeat and get me in the mood for running. I love being able to listen to pump-up music when I run. It gets me in a happy mood.
- Being in shape. I feel better about myself, and just in general when I’m in shape. I find that I have a lot more energy and endurance for everyday things. I went hiking a while back and the fact that I was in shape really helped. While the others considered it a hard walk, I kept thinking to myself that I’ve run further and harder distances. It was a good feeling.
- Road races. Although I may not be the best out there, road races are fun to do. There are usually so many people there and the atmosphere is great. It is a good way to show off your training, or just to have a good time. There isn’t any real pressure for fun runs and it’s a good chance to run with friends. And road races usually fund some sort of charity and you get a free shirt so It’s all good.
