“There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year,

years in my life.  But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child,

an artist and a saint.  So, too, are you.  Find your own play, your own

self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant

to be.” - George Sheehan

Lately been I've been reflecting a lot on the years i've been running. Running now consistently for around eight or nine years! I can't believe it and I've ran seven and a half marathons during this time. Which running marathons was the main inspiration for me when I started running and it continues to be to this day. Why do I strive to run marathons every year? Well that is another discussion all together. Though as I reflect back on my running career I think about all the sports and activities running has lead me towards.

Before running I never actually dedicated myself to a sport or any kind of training. Now that I do I often wonder why I never tried any sports when I was younger or at least stuck with them. I never even ran in High school but here I am throughout my 20's and now almost 30 running like crazy!

Running has lead me to find other sports to participate in such as Ultimate Frisbee, Rollerblading, Racquet Ball, Flag Football and soon possibly even softball. So for me running goes beyond the health benefits, It truly inspires to me in my everyday life in my career and sporting hobbies. It opens doors for me. It frees the mind and builds your confidence.

Today is August 1st which marks "pre-marathon" season for me. My July running production was down so I hope to pick it back up in starting in August. Though I stay active and in shape all year it is good to ease off your longer runs for awhile. It does a couple things for me, It makes me anxious and hungry to get back out there and improve. It also helps rest my body from any nagging injuries so that when you do begin training you are fresh and injury free.

So 20-25 miles a week is my off season average but now that August is here and marathon season around the corner I look forward to increasing that!

Tomorrow is another day, and there will be another battle!

I'm mostly a solo runner honestly. With that I feel that a lot of my runs are times of reflection. A time where I can shut everything out and just enjoy my own world. I let the energy just take over me and before you know miles have gone by. From my perspective the world slows down around me. My thoughts slow down even though my body is racing.

I use this time and energy sometimes to deal with inner challenges and it is a way for me to release some negative energy. I find though that this feeling of utopia merely ends after your run, it is the challenge of carrying on this energy into your every day life. It can be done, I always say, "dig deep".

Learn to run when feeling the pain: then push harder.

Their are two types of pain in running in my opinion, one is physical and the other is mental. Any running regiment or training program will teach you  to gradually build up your miles and to listen to your body. I do believe in this philosophy because it does build patience and teaches discipline in running in which you will need to grow and it will take you a long way into your running career. Sometimes running hurts. It can hurt physically if you don't listen to your body, rest when you are injured and keep your shoes on a good rotation. But if you do all these things right you'll move right along and experience the mental pain of running. The part where you'll be tested mentally constantly. You have to be able to block out everything in your mind and focus on the run at hand. The moment and make the best of it. I always say to myself "this is my run, i'm going to run hard". Little things like that you tell yourself to build your confidence. You have to discover what is inside of you when you run. You are going to hit walls no matter how skilled you are. But I find that consistency is the best formula. Keep at it, make it a routine and your life. Everything else will follow. Follow the pain and make it work for you not against you. Because it is inside of you and that is what drives you.

Some may ask why I am running such long distances. There are reasons. During the marathons and my runs I come to a point where my body is almost dead. My mind has to take leadership. When it is very hard there is a war going on between the body and the mind. If my body wins, I will have to give up; if my mind wins, I will continue. At that time I feel that I stay outside of my body. It is as if I see my body in front of me; my mind commands and my body follows. This is a very special feeling, which I like very much. . . It is a very beautiful feeling and the only time I experience my personality separate from my body, as two different things. To me what this what running is about and crosses into all areas of my life.