I Run Because I Can

I run because I can.

This is my new motto for running.  For a long time, I hated to run.  In fact, I vividly recall an afternoon in high school gym class.  While I was rockin' it on the stationary bike, Coach Hymas came by to ask me to join the track team.  I just laughed saying "I'm not fast." He didn't mind, he suggested that all I needed to be was flexible so I could do hurdles. Yep, apparently he hadn't seen me trying to touch my toes earlier in the year.  Not so flexible...
Needless to say, I didn't join.

My lack of excitement for running continued through college.  It wasn't until spring of 2007 that my sisters convinced me to join them for the Deseret News 10k on the 24th of July.  Maybe I said yes because for the first time I wanted to follow in my sisters footsteps.  I ran it again in 2008, but took a running hiatus in 2009.  And then it was 2010.  Wow!  This has been a year of running! I ran the Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay, Deseret News 10k, Dirty Dash 10k, and most recently the Wasatch Woman 10k this past weekend at Thanksgiving Point.  And I'm already signed up for a couple races in 2011!
Earlier this year, I saw the phrase "I run because I can" and decided that is why I do it.  When I started running, I hated it.  My body ached and I was tired from getting up early to run before work.  It seemed impossible to find any joy in it.  I even invested in an iPod shuffle to help motivate, but decided I liked running without music better (plus, its much safer for street running).  And then while training for the Ragnar, something happened.  For once, I was running enough that my body didn't ache.  It was summer and the sun was rising at 6am or earlier so getting up early enough to run before work didn't seem so early anymore.  I made friends with other runners who were encouraging me without even knowing it!  Running was fun!

Now the seasons are changing and its getting cold.  I'm finding it hard to get up and run before work again.  But, I have a motivation.  I've finally reached the point that that running feels good and I don't want to lose this goodness!  So I get up, put on my running clothes, throw on my reflector vest and tighten my head lamp, avoiding my pony tail.  It's cold, but it is very peaceful running in the dark.  Fewer cars to avoid, crisp air to breathe, but the best part is that I don't psych myself out with the view of the distance ahead.  I find I can run longer in the dark.  I just go. I run.

In the end, I run because I can.