Active Community: Message List - So why did we start running?

Re: So why did we start running?

tsmofeire — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:27:37 GMT

See you in 6 days, at the MCM -

I'll be the guy in running shorts, near the back of the 4:00 pace group.....

Praying the rain stays away.

Have a great run !

OOPS, had no idea it would post here, why did I start running?

I played tennis in High School and ran for conditioning (27 years ago). Took it up again a few years ago, originally about fitness, then it became about the community, Just a great group of people. Started off at the gym, then ran the neighborhood, then ran the town, then ran town to town, ran my first marathon last year, a couple halfs, a dozen 5k's, a few 10k's and Marine corp next week...

I rarely experience what some call the runner's high, but, afterwards, I feel such a level of accomplishment, I can go on that alone for a few days..

Re: So why did we start running?

Luker23 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:43:45 GMT

I originally started to run in June of 2007. I just completed my junior year of high school. I was 5'8 and 170 pounds. So yeah, a little overweight. I played soccer and had good skills, and was known to be a very solid soccer player on my team. But, I wanted more; I wanted to play the position I could never play...midfield. I started to run 4 miles five days a week (20 miles a week) in addition to playing soccer three days a week and swimming daily. I felt that if I could do this before soccer season started in mid-August, I'd be able to get into the shape I wanted to. And, I did! I lost ten pounds that soccer season, and was able to play midfield. A

After soccer, I concentrated on basketball and probably lost some of my physical fitness. In December of 2007, I badly sprained my ankle, to which I felt was due to a lack of physical fitness. I played through most of the season with immense pain. But, when my ankle finally healed in March of 2008, I set my sights on a run that I admired...a local 10 mile run. My goal in March was 88 minutes, and I finished in 78:31. I then did two half-marathons that summer (by myself and timed them with my car's odometer!) in times of 2:01 and 1:51. Now, I want more, and am hopefully marathoning soon :-). There is nothing I would rather do now than run. It's a new challenge for me and a way to stay in shape. It's a symbolic, as I believe running is a sport where we are physically (and literally) getting away from our troubles, problems, or setbacks and running to our goals in life (a promotion, sub 3 hour marathon, etc). It gives me great pleasure to speak to others who love running as much as I do.

Re: So why did we start running?

dches — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:16:55 GMT

I run because it's just for me. It's hard, and it's torturous in the way that I can have a great run one day, and miserable the next. It's the reward of that great run that makes me come back after a horrible run. I don't compete with anyone but myself, and I don't care about comparing myself to anyone. The rest of my life is for taking care of other people, or pleasing other people. Running is mine.

Re: So why did we start running?

brittinaxel — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:32:20 GMT

For me it started with trying to lose weight for wrestling:( , then I slowly started adding miles. When it came to the mile run required for highschool I had one goal, beat a fellow student who looked at himself as kingpin. I destroyed him and was truly proud of myself and I never felt as alive, I could have ran several more miles. My goal was set 1 5K in the coming summer. It eventually transformed me into running 2 5K's, 2 10K's and 1 Half-Marathon. Determination is what pushed me and kept me driving on towards only success. My goal for the half was 2:00 and I shattered that with 1:40:34. I have a picture frame of me crossing the finish line and everytime I look at my spirit is shot skyward. Thats why I started running and still continue with hopes and dreams of crossing the finish line of a Marathon in my near future. By the way I am only 15 years old and hope to carry this one great essential to my life until my death!!!

B.A.R.

Re: So why did we start running?

HCrunner27 — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:41:53 GMT

I began running earlier this year, (May 1st). I never enjoyed running growing up, but always liked the idea of being able to run a long distance. My first time out I went 1.7 miles, two days later I went three miles. I defied conventional logic and added a mile a week to my longest run. Not a single injury to speak of. I got up to nine miles. I took two months off when it got too hot, there is just something about 85 degrees with 90% humidity that my body doesn't like.

I just started running again last week. I always run at night. I don't tell anyone that I run. I run for me, no one else. Unless I can compete for a win, I will never pay to run. My goal is to run 10 miles by the end of the year in under an hour.

Re: So why did we start running?

Jim Pijloo — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:35:20 GMT

well....I use to do it "just to stay in shape" inbetween out door racquetball tournaments while still playing basket ball and such. However, it was in 1999 when I tore my achilles tendon while playing indoor volleyball and was laid up for 13 months that I decided that I should stay away from lateral sports. So, my MD sez...ride a bike or get into swimming...and I replied: I think I'll try running....which was 8 years ago and I just love it.

Here's a url that might help clarify: http://www.athlinks.com/racer/14576946/Jim-Pijloo.aspx

Jim;)

Re: So why did we start running?

Dre Day — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:23:32 GMT

Wow! This is such great stuff here! You all are great inspiration. I started running to beat diabetes (type 2). It runs in my family and it was just in my genes to get it. I was diagnosed last May 20, 2007. I just got out on a track one day and started running. I remember barely being able to run a mile. I was a weight lifter for about 4 years and could bench press a couch practically, but couldn't run to save my life!!! I eventually progressed and worked my way up to my first 5k last labor day. Since then, I have beaten diabetes and have been taken off 2 of the 3 medications that I was on for it. Diabetes has not been in my system since January. I credit a change in my eating and running for that. There is NO WAY that I will get on insulin. I have completed a number of 5k races (22:21 PB), a few 5 milers and just completed my first half marathon on September 21 (Philly Distance Run, 1:53). Next up, Seaside Half Marathon (10/19). And I already have my eye set on a full marathon some time next year. Oh, I forget to mention that I'm down just about 45lbs since the spring of '07! Don't forget to wave to your fellow runners when you see them out on the road!! We all have a great bond!

Re: So why did we start running?

Urbster — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:25:54 GMT

Those were all great stories, I loved everyone of them. So why did I started running? It was year and 1/2 ago that I picked it up and I'm 43. I ran one year when I was 17 in high school, not for the school just for myself, then I stopped, just never did it again no idea why probably got a job or something. Couple years ago I met someone I really fell hard for. I sort of magically worked my way into his life, he was a runner. After quietly pursuing him I figured I'd take up running since he was into it and it would give us some more things in common. I first ran on the treadmill then in my neighborhood. May 08 I entered a 5k race and something happened, it changed my life. I quit smoking and my other unhealthy habits and suddenly I wanted to run more then I wanted the guy. I would start looking at roads around my house and size them up as possible running routes, get jealous when I saw someone else running and I was in the car, I went through (going through) every aliment possile, I spent my extra $ saving for shoes, shorts, shirts, gels, or any other running gear. Spent hours online at sites like this getting advice. That guy quit running last year. I'm still interested in him but I'm more interested in running. It's funny, I know I would have never done this on my own, never quit smoking and being unhealthy if it wasn't for that strong feeling, I'm wondering if that was the whole reason why the universe made me fall for him in the first place. Sneaky universe....very sneaky!

Re: So why did we start running?

Kevin Berger — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:40:09 GMT

I grew up on a farm and had the opportunity to play one sport and the sport was football. I played beginning at the age of 8. As a freshman in high school, I as on the small side for football but kept after the sport that I loved playing. During summing sessions, I remember watching the cross country team do laps of "indian running" around the football field while we were practicing and thinking that they were crazy, who would want to do that as a sport. I soon found out that the football team always ended Thursday's practice with a mile run on the track with full gear. I remember all of the upperclassmen complaining how much of a pain in the a@@ it was and I had the same thought in my head before we did it. After running two of the four laps, I found myself keeping up with the star senior on the team. I thought to myself, "Hey, this isn't that bad" and I pushed to try to beat the him. I didn't but after a few weeks, the other seniors started to box me during the first few laps because "this freshman" was always finished 2nd or 3rd on the team and the coach would be yelling at the upperclassmen about letting a freshman beat them.

During my sophomore season, I was the top kid during our mile runs. One day, the cross country coach was around the track at the end of our practice. After "winning" the mile, he came over to me and told me that I was going to run track in the Spring. I told him my situation at home and said that I didn't think I could. I went home and talked to my parents. They said no, because they couldn't take the time to pick me up from practice in the spring due to the spring planting. My brother, who had graduated a few years earlier told my parents that he would pick me up from practice and as the say, the rest is history. I gave up football my junior year to join the cross country team and I qualified for states in the mile and in cross country my senior year.

Unfortunately, I didn't continue my career in college, but after graduation, marrage, two kids and a divorce, I needed something to take my mind off of my problems and returned to running. I met a special woman (whom I married 4 years ago) that also has running in her blood, she has been running since 7th grade. That was ten years ago and I qualified for Boston in the Marine Corp Marathon in Oct 07 in my first try at qualifying at the age of 42. I will be running Boston in 09 and hope to greatly improve over my 3:17 at the MCM.

My wife and I now run at least one marathon per year along with several 1/2 marathons. We are working towards the 50/50 club. We probably will never acheive the goal, but we are having fun.

Re: So why did we start running?

xcrunr1647 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:21:39 GMT