Regular Person, Real Life Runner

Why do I run? It is a simple yet perfunctorily profound question that most likely could lead to my breaking through and ultimately dominating my own imaginable limits, hitting PRs and BQs, and making the lottery of Western States (my dream race).  The question still goes unanswered though, why do I run?

If you think about it, look at who you are as a person, and really think about it, there is not one answer that is classically defined as right or wrong, there may even be more than one, but once you hear it echoing in your head, you want to keep on asking it, "Why do I run?"

I draw upon inspiration from the story based on real life war hero Louis Zamperini.  I first heard of his great efforts of survival and strength in my monthly issue of Runner's World.  I look forward to seeing these glossy pages grace the inside of my mailbox every month so when I opened up the door and saw it sitting there I was excited.  I flipped through to a cover story I found particularly interesting that was about inspiring individuals that had made a difference in the world through their love of the sport; thereby, impacting the lives of others.  Mr. Zamperini's story caught my attention because at the time of the story's publication he, to me at least, did not seem to look like a runner.

 Once I read his insert and began doing some research about his experience I was wholly in shock and awe!  He went from a trouble making teen who could not speak English, to an Olympic athlete poised to break American barriers, to a soldier, to a prisoner of war, and finally he became a survivor and a living testament to will of the human soul.  I do not know of anyone who could not look at this story of epic resilience and not want to go out there and run with all your heart like he did.  This is a man who could have broken the four minute mark in the mile well before it was done, he had the talent, he had the drive, and he had the skill.  Which leads me to ask a question I would have loved to ask him in person, "Mr. Zamperini, why did you run?"  I feel like reading the biography based on his life could shed some light on the answer (though nothing could do quite as much justice as asking the man himself).  He ran to escape a past that was unbecoming of him, he ran because he was very good at it, he ran for the recognition, and he ran because he knew that he could push himself to be better each day than the previous day.  He was a man who knew that when he won, and when he put American milers on the map at the Berlin Olympics of 1936, it was because he put in the hard work, he gave it everything he had in him, and he achieved goals greater than he ever imagined when he started his running career.  How good does it feel at the end of the day to say to yourself that you gave it everything you had, your best effort? How good does it feel when all that endeavoring culminates in one gloriously epic showdown between you and your mind and your body and the devil on your shoulder telling you that it does not matter, this is just a game?

So, why do you run?  I was inspired to ask myself this question by a short speech famed Academy Award winning actor Matthew McConaughey made to the Texas Longhorns on the practice field one day.  Some of you may not like him or what he stands for, but you cannot argue with the words he is saying and that they are inspiring in helping you get down to the root question, "Why do I run?" You may run for a lot of reasons, but at the end of the day, the only person that it matters you run for is you.  Every year begins a new running season for me, simple as that, January rolls around and it is the start of another running season, a year's worth of races.  This year did not start off as successfully as I had hoped it would and I did not like that I did not do as well as I wanted to.  So as the year went and my results got better and I was more hopeful, things changed and the burnout came, right around the time the seasons change, it happens every year, and I hate it.  I have to drag myself to put on my running shoes and drag myself out the door.  To say that it is deflating is an understatement.  I have two races, two big races, the Marine Corps Marathon and Pinhoti 100, coming up and my dedication is seriously waning and making me question why I run and get out there everyday.  There are some days when it is inevitably terrible,horrible,no good, and very bad.  That for me was two weeks ago, in pursuit of a BQ (Boston Qualifier) and aiming to run 16 miles, I fell and nearly broke my ankle; that ankle still is not feeling right.  I wanted to give up my pursuit of the year's goals.  To me, that is heartbreaking, it hurts to think I cannot do what I want to do, because I have always believed that I could do anything.

I can endure that little bit of pain for a lifetime of greatness, but I did not know why I was still running.  I chalked it up to one bad day and kept going.  I have had a couple of good weeks now and even though I faltered, I know why I run.  Ultimately, I run for me, I run to stay sane, I run to stay healthy, I run because it helps me do my job, I run because it makes me smile, I run because it makes me feel fulfilled, I run to make myself proud (and to make my family proud), but ultimately, it matters most that I run for me.  Everyday I get out there and bust my butt, in the heat and the cold, sleep deprived and well rested, not only because I know I can, but because in each workout I see myself being better that day than the day before.  I am a regular person with irregular goals that I will achieve, I am a real life runner who is here to achieve her athletic dreams.  I can continue to get better everyday till I reach my goals.  I run for me, but I want to hear, why do you run?  Why do you like to do what you do?

"The only easy day was yesterday." - navy seals

"If I can take it, I can make it." -  Louis Zamperini