When I was 16 years old (I am now 23) I was 5'6 and 220lbs, I dropped the weight by doing heavy cardio and light lifting to 150lbs in 6 months.  I was sick of getting picked on, ignored, and looked down on because of the way I looked.  So I decided to do something about it, lost a ton of weight, and then started dating one of the hottest girls at my school =)

SO anyway, ya, its a "IN YOUR FACE" kind of motivation for me.  And no matter how much time passes, that little fat kid is still inside me, and the "HA!  I CAN DO ANYTHING!" motivation is what keeps me going today.

I also find myself focusing more and more on my fitness/running when something bad is going on in my life, when I start to feel a wave of depression (hereditary) come over me, I know that in order to counter it, I need to start to pick up my workout.  Give my mind something else to focus and strive for other than my own depression and thoughts.  My parents even notice it, the more I work and focus on fitness, the calmer and happier I become.

I run for many reasons including health, the disipline, to challange myself but another reason is I love the identity it gives me, how do you run so far? or I saw you running yesterday at 6 in the morning in the rain, your nuts! also I do enjoy seeing the begining of  a new day-now thats spiritual.  Joel

SlowPokeChu,

Great question. I run for many reasons. But mostly because a runner is who I am. The benefits that running brings come with it of course, but I really run because the sun came up in the east and another day has come.

Stay on Top of the Ball.

http://community.active.com/blogs/p-dog

Paul828