Why in the world do I run?

So I like to run, a lot of people know this...but why, why do I do it?

Running hurts, it triggers my asthma, it takes time out of the day, its not like I actually need to lose weight and my manual labor job keeps me in shape...and yet I do it. When I can't run because I'm injured, or its too cold for my asthma I miss it.

I've been running for what feels like forever. I started running in the seventh grade, mostly because my sister did before me. She liked it, it motivated her...and you get a cool sweatshirt...so hey why the heck not...I gave the running thing a try.

And I liked it.

I liked the rush and the crowds and sprinting to the finish. I liked running in the mud and getting all gross, and I liked being part of the team. 

Running was hard in high school, because I went to one of THOSE schools. You know the schools without any sports...super lame I know. So I ran for the local high school - the regular one. I missed practice every day, missed most of outdoor track season, and high school is when I developed asthma...phew running got a lot harder when I couldn't breathe! Indoor track was the worst! That air was so stale and yucky that even a person without asthma had trouble breathing.

I kept running though, purely because I wanted the 9 pin award (achieving 9 varsity pins in your high school career). I finally got it and then I stopped running. I had no more reason for it.

I decided not to run in college because of my asthma. Athletically induced asthma takes the fun right out of running! And then something happened...I had to run again, I just couldn't not. A nice day would come along and I would think man this is a nice day for a run. Most people think "hmm this is a nice day to sit outside doing absolutely nothing," but not me my mind went to running.

So I started running again, very slowly (at least I thought it was slowly). Around campus a few times, and then I wasn't tired so I kept going. I had no far I was running I just went for it. I was asked to run in the memorial race on campus by a few of my friends they thought it would be fun. I originally turned them down because, well, I was afraid I couldn't do a 5K yet. I looked at the course map and found out the lap I'd been running is just under a mile long. The day before I was asked to run the 5K I ran 8 laps...well that pretty much settled it, I was going to run again. 

I ran the 5K very slowly but I had a new goal: run 10 miles without using my inhaler by the end of the next semester. I had a goal again and running became fun. I ran slow, but steady and completed my goal with just days left in the semester. I was very happy. 

Since then I ran 3 more 5K races (another memorial on campus, a memorial at home and the Color Me RAD 5K). I have also started increasing my speed, but then injury took over and I am anxiously awaiting the return of proper running weather so I can start again.

So why do I do it? Simply because I like it. I work towards goals and improving myself. Blaring music while running also makes it quite enjoyable.