As a high school and college athlete, I despised any form of running. But as one matures (a.k.a. hits their 30s ), we often seek new adventures and challenges.  I did just that. Running and I renewed  a relationship around three years ago and, as many can attest to, I’m hooked!

Hooked not only encompasses a number of changes in my lifestyle , but also solicits many opinions from  family, friends and acquaintances.  So for you non-runners out there, I want to shed some light on we running-types.

Not every runner wants to run a marathon or has run one. SHOCKER, right? I started this running gig to find some “me time” and  “zen” (zen = meditative state, for today’s purposes.) Kudos to you Yoga folks who twist, turn and lift yourself physically and mentally. I tried it and it wasn’t for me. Running is: me, the road, my shoes, the horizon, the rhythm of my footfalls, and clearing my mind of the garbage. Along this ride, thus far, have been some 5ks and half-marathons with goals. #1 goal: finish the race ALIVE and if I can do better than I did last time that’s awesome!

As far as a marathon goes, I will do one someday and probably within the next 18 months. Why? Because I can do it, despite my brain and many of YOU thinking that I can’t.

YES, we runners can go on-and-on-and-on about running.  We get up at 5:30 a.m. for a run, while many of you are still sleeping and it can be a struggle to do so.  Our success/sense of accomplishment is based on sticking to a plan and often pushing ourselves through a weekly “I-almost-puked” speed workout to shave SECONDS off of our last and/or best race time.  Running involves challenging yourself and discipline. Both of which children subconsciously yearn for and many adults don’t have. I’m proud of myself and all be damned you might just hear about it.

Just because we run, does not mean we can eat what ever we want, and as much of it as we’d like. I wish this were true! As a runner increases their mileage they burn more energy and that means we may need more fuel, but how much fuel depends on how much you are running. I am not running a marathon in the near future, therefore I should not be eating like I am. I do however sometimes think I am a fish and therefore drink – on occasion – like one. Yes, some runners do, can and like to drink alcohol too. However, please accept our apologies if we don’t want to go on a bender with you the night before a 14 mile morning run. There is NOTHING cool about how that run goes and feels, if we give into  peer pressure.

We pay to run races that 99.9% of us will NOT win.  Yes, it is true.  Running, for most of us non-Olympian types, is about doing our personal best. Come on, isn’t that what life is about anyhow? Why not pay for a day to join a group of people who are reaching for that very same goal and along the way you get a cool shirt, medal, cheering squads and a celebration at the end for all of that hard work we’ve put in to get there?

People have hobbies and make different life style choices. Mine is running. I’m not crazy or obsessed. I’ve found my passion and I challenge you to find yours.