Let me preface this ode-to-running by being completely honest about my past relationship with the sport.  From my teen years on I loathed running, dreaded it, feared it.  I had always been really sporty – there weren’t many sports I hadn’t tried over the years and been fairly OK at (except basketball, but let’s not go there).  But if you asked me to go for a run… no deal…I couldn’t run for more than about one minute without feeling horrendous.

One summer back in my uni days, a friend and I decided to “get fit” and met at Lake Ginninderra for a run.  I made it about a third of the way round before stopping to walk.  My friend, concerned for my well-being, ran a second lap to find me.  I was humiliated.

Running just wasn’t me. And then, about two years ago now, I stuck with it and it became the most rewarding thing in my life. And this is why I love running.

It gives me goals

In the last few years I have realised I am a fairly goal-driven person…and working 9 to 5 in a steady job, with a stable relationship left me relatively goal-less.  All was good and I was restless.  Running provides me with goals.  Every week I can aim for a certain distance or a certain time.  I can set long term goals: 10km races, half-marathons and maybe one day even the full marathon.  It brings focus to my life.

 It’s my meditation

When I run, my mind is still.  I think it’s something about the physical exertion not leaving much room to think about anything.  If I do think something, it’s usually quite simple, quite positive, and just sits suspended in my mind before disappearing.   It brings me to calm.

I’m positive when I run

I have been known to fist pump the air while running.  It’s true.  Sometimes, I set myself a goal I don’t think I can achieve, and I do.  Fist pump.  Sometimes I get through the first 5km of a run and it feels easy.  Fist pump.  Sometimes I look down at my watch and I see I am going faster than usual.  Fist pump.  When I run up hills and it hurts, I remind myself that my legs are getting stronger.  The days I am finding the run hard, I remind myself how far I have come and I cut myself some slack.  It’s one of the few times I am really truly nice to myself.

It lets me explore

I have seen parts of Canberra running that I would never have normally seen.  I have seen moments in the still and icy mornings I would never have normally seen.   I see spectacular sunrises, I see birds and possums and impossibly calm lakes.  And when I run, I have nothing else to do but notice these things.  When I travel, I bring my running gear too.  Again, I have seen parts of the world that I never would have had the opportunity to, had I not gone out for a run.  Most runs, I am filled with gratitude for what I have seen.

It improves my body image

Running was the first step toward a much better body image.  Not because I lost weight, I didn’t (see next point).  But because it shifted my focus from what my body looks like to what it can do.  And it can do wonders!

It makes me hungry (no metaphor here)

On Saturday mornings I go for a long run.  I aim for at least 14kms in the wee hours, before breakfast.  And for the rest of the day, I could eat anything and everything.  I love that.  I love that when I meet my husband for breakfast after a run, I demolish my meal and only dignity stops me from ordering breakfast #2.  Or sometimes, it doesn’t…

I do things I never thought I could

And lastly, I love running because every single time I run, I am doing something I never thought I could.  Imagine if you could start your day off like that?

Get into it…

If you want to get into (or back into) running, you should check out the great article by Alison Senti from earlier this year.  She has some excellent tips to get you started and keep you motivated.  And my favourite line?  “Congratulate yourself every time for getting out there and doing something amazing for your body and mind.”