Why I Run

I know I said my next blog would be about my training plan for the winter but I wanted to talk a bit about why I run.

After having a break from running, albeit short and not welcome, getting back out there and running felt amazing.  Whilst I was trotting round River Park in Winchester I had time to think about why it is that I run (starting a blog has made me think a lot more than usual...not sure that is something I should be doing!).

There are a few reasons I first started running.  I was podgy, I had a small daughter who made me feel like I was having a heart attack every time I had to run after her and I was dared to and didn't want to lose face in front of some young bucks.

At first I can't say that I enjoyed running.  It was painful.  I would run half a mile and have to stop and walk.  My chest was tight, I was breathing heavily and afterwards my legs hurt like hell!  I didn't really want to continue and there were many times that I wanted to quit, but I stuck it out and slowly, ever so slowly, it became easier and I started to look forward to the sessions.

I started to find that after a lunchtime run I came back and felt awake and invigorated (I even stopped taking naps at my desk).  I found I was sleeping better.  I started to lose weight and started to gain confidence.  In short...I felt great.  Better than I had done in years.

In addition, through Westbourne Running Club, I had started meeting some new people and making some new friends.  Running became a social activity as well as a means to improving myself.  Running with Westbourne RC and from the LV office meant that there was always someone to run with at lunch and as time went on I started to have regular groups of people that I ran with.  Running had become fun, I started to look forward to it.

As I started to increase the distances that I was running I had more time pounding the streets and therefore more time to think.  I found that if I was stressed or had something that was bothering me, a good long run would allow me to think through my problems and clear my mind.  I would use my long Sunday runs to plan my week ahead; thinking about how I would structure my work, what I would need to focus on, who was likely to piss me off and how I would deal with them, what I was going to have for dinner...

I have also found that the reverse is also true.  Not running has made me grouchy, stressed and my sleep has been awful!!  Sarah has been looking forward to me getting back out there! 

Running has changed me as a person (for the better I hope) and I am so glad I took it up.  Whilst I may guff on about it regularly and at length I hope you understand a bit more about why I feel the way I do about running.

Next time...my winter training plan!