Run For Fun

I know this sounds crazy to mostly everyone, but I promise it really can be true. I mean attitude is everything right? I recently ran a half marathon and I have to admit it was one of the most amazing feelings ever. It has always been one of those things on my bucket list that I have always had the opportunity to do, but kept putting it off for one reason or another. Running 13.1 miles I’m sure doesn’t sound fun to anyone, but you can’t say you don’t like something if you have never tried it.  

I haven’t always loved to run, but I guess one thing led to another and I eventually did fall in love with it. I played soccer and would force myself to run around my neighborhood and up and down a few stair-cases to stay in shape but I never thought that I would find pleasure in running multiple miles at a time. The first real race I did growing up was a 5K run on Thanksgiving day called the Turkey Trot. My older sister was a runner in high school and she would do this race for fun every thanksgiving, so one year I decided to tag along. I didn’t know it at the time, but I think that was the beginning to my addiction. I kept going every year to the Turkey Trot, I even went by myself a couple years (one year in the pouring rain) because they had become so enjoyable. Sure waking up at 7a.m. was never fun, and as a 9 year old little girl the joy that I got from running was definitely not because of all the calories I was burning, so that made me realize that there was something about races and running that felt good.            

            Something got into me my junior year of high school and I impulsively tried out for the cross-country team one day over summer. Before I knew it I had gotten myself into a sport that consisted of 100% running. We had 8 a.m. practices six days a week all summer and I kept wondering why I voluntarily signed myself up for that. I never thought I would see that day, but when race season started cross-country actually became fun!

            The reason why I wanted to share all of this is because I wanted to show you that I was not born with some exclusive gene that gave me a love for running, its something that I found happiness in over time and I feel that everyone could learn to enjoy it for the same reasons that I did. My main motivators; to be fit and in shape, to get that awesome feeling of accomplishment at the end of a run, and the most amazing rush of endorphins otherwise known as a runners high. This still may all seem crazy to some of you, but it’s one of those things that you’ll never know until you try it.  

Get motivated

1) Set a goal date & sign up! Setting a goal for yourself whether it be ambitious or a first little baby step will give you that little push to start training.

2) Pick somewhere you like. There are runs all over the country so whether you like the beach or the wilderness there’s a race somewhere for you.

            3) Find a good cause. A lot of big races are usually are fundraisers for a cause or charity, so find something that’s meaningful to you and run for them.

            Things that keep you going before, during, a race

1) Working out and training gets you on a good sleep and eating schedule that you wont want to mess up.

2) Training for a race entails dedicating time to go on runs. This is a great time to explore, listen to music, and clear your head.

3) You are surrounded with positive energy. In every race whether it be competitive or not, everyone is so motivated and supportive, and it’s contagious.

4) The sense of accomplishment at the end of a race is felt through out your whole mind and body.