Why We Run

My friends and I are on the track team, and we all love to run. Yet we complain all the time about how tired, nervous, and scared (mainly because of our unsympathetic, insane coach) we are when we go to practice every day. “So why do you run then?”, a question that everyone asks. So on behalf of myself and other runners, here’s why:

1. Because we can. Humans have the potential to walk and run, so why waste this potential by being a couch potato?

2. It’s healthy. Aside from helping you lose weight, your cardiovascular health will improve, and not only that, you can lower your blood pressure. As one gets older, running regularly will help decrease their chance of having bone or muscle loss as you get older. They will also feel more energized and have a stronger immune system.

3. It makes you feel good about yourself. After a hard workout, you might feel less stressed, and more happier and satisfied knowing that you ran that much and that you are becoming more healthier. This happiness that a runner feels is due to the hormones called endorphins, which makes a runner feel happy (aka ‘runner’s high’) and is released during running.

4. It slows down the aging process. This is not one of my reasons (for I am still fairly young), but it may be for some of the older runners. People who run regularly will have stronger bones and muscles in the future because the body is responding to the physical demands of running. Those who don’t run will be more likely to get osteoporosis.

5. It’s simple. All you do is move your legs. No need to learn any special skills such as dribbling or throwing a ball.

6. You get 2 in 1. Running does not have to be all about exercise, it can be about socializing too if you run with a group. I don’t have time to talk on the phone all the time, so I run with my friends and socialize.

7. It’s free. You don’t have to buy any equipment like you would for basketball or soccer. Also, it’s free transportation (Go Green!).

8. You get your own “me time”. Running gives you time for you to think and organize your thoughts. It’s your “me time”. I know I run to give myself time to think when things get chaotic at home.

9. To Inspire others. You may not know it, but you may have also influenced others to run too. They will see you as a hardworking person, and be inspired to run. I know I have influenced my sister and cousins to go running now too after I took them running with me.

10. To amaze them. If you have ever participated/won in a marathon or track meet or any type of running event, you will see that spectators are in awe at what you and others had accomplshed when you nurture your potential to run. After finishing a race, the faces spectators put on is my reward for running all the time.

Without a doubt, running is my life. If you still can’t see why, go out right now and start running.