Why do you run?

There's something in the primal act of moving swiftly through space under one's own power, without the encumbrance of machine or motivation, that just feels right, and doing so barefoot only serves to heighten that feeling. The health benefits of running are obvious, but it doesn't really take all that long to attain them. And then you start doing things like racing, or running long, long distances, or both, and at that point, the real question of why you're running is a fair one to ask. For me, running truly is an expression of who I am -- more comfortable alone than in groups, more inclined toward introspection than outward expression, more willing to spend long hours with only my thoughts and my will, not so much testing either, but simply examining their interplay. I want to run, and I CAN run, so I do. I don't have illusions that it will make me death-proof, or that I'll set any sort of record. It doesn't make me a better person, and it doesn't fix anything that's wrong with the world. It just feels as much a part of me as breathing. So, I run.

Okay, I just wanted to second this. Perfectly stated, it pretty much sums it up for me.
 
I've heard lovely things about that place. I work for ASAP and have heard stories from my clients about how hard they partied out there. One guy told me that his ASAP counselor smelled like alcohol.
Hahaha! Ya, we partied pretty hard there when I was there. In fact, before we deployed to Afghanistan there was some general (forget his name off the top of my head, the Yellow Tail wine is making me forgetful I guess) said he wouldn't let Schoffield guard a box of MRE's. Kind of pissed us all off, but I do see his point. It's the place that senior officers and NCO's like to go to finish out their terms for retirement. It's billed as a cushy duty station. My unit didn't believe in that though and worked us like dogs. Most of our NCO's had come from Bragg and Campbell and were not going to let us dink off.
 
My Hubby has fond memories and tells me stories about a friend who would run and smoke at the same time! (This was in the Army) This guy was so fast that he made so many people upset because even smoking, he would beat most people.
Wow - smoke and run simultaneously! That sure beats me wanting a smoke after a run! Guess we were a little deficient in the "smarts" category back then!
 
i started running because walking the dog got a little boring. he seemed to have more fun doing it even though i couldn't go far and didn't enjoy it. then i got vff's, huaraches, and finally went bf. love. i now do it for how it makes me feel both mentally and physically. oh, the dog still has a good time and harasses me if we don't run for a few days.
 
Hahaha! Ya, we partied pretty hard there when I was there. In fact, before we deployed to Afghanistan there was some general (forget his name off the top of my head, the Yellow Tail wine is making me forgetful I guess) said he wouldn't let Schoffield guard a box of MRE's. Kind of pissed us all off, but I do see his point. It's the place that senior officers and NCO's like to go to finish out their terms for retirement. It's billed as a cushy duty station. My unit didn't believe in that though and worked us like dogs. Most of our NCO's had come from Bragg and Campbell and were not going to let us dink off.

I believe that. Campbell guys are a special kind of crazy. I sometimes wonder if it has anything to do with all the deployments these guys have seen. That is certainly another tangent though.
 
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First of all, pleasure:
that wonderful feeling of self-propelled motion,
the soleful stimulation,
the pleasant little journeys,
gaining a slightly different geographical perspective on urban landscapes,
the embrace of the elements,
the comfortably challenging mental exertion,
and a more attractive figure.

Of course there’s also health:
having all my gauges within normal ranges,
improved concentration,
better mood,
and sound sleep.

And then on top of all that I get to chase all my demons away on a regular basis.
 
De-stresser as many have mentioned....its a time for me to be selfish and set aside time just for me.

and read my sig =)
one reinforces the other :barefoot:
 
I was, cough, Born to run:eek: ....I just didn't know it till I turned 40 and took off my shoes. Learning to run and walk again without stomping or clomping was its own motivation. I love learning new things, especially things so basic to life. Now, I run for fun, for mental health, for physical health, and to get outside and stay connected to the world around me. I ditto most or all of the above.
 
All been said by the better writer's above.

Started running about 12 years ago to lose weight. Never enjoyed it much, just went through the motions for the physical activity. Started entering races about 2.5 years ago and became addicted. Pushed too hard and became injured. Took off the shoes and the rest is history. Love running, walking, hiking, living barefoot now. Completely addicted.
 
Running started as a means to an end, way back in my youth: to get into shape and lose some weight. It became something of an obsession, only to be supplanted by other obsessions over the years. But I always, always, came back to running, no matter how long an absence.

That's me, more or less. I actually started running in August 1988 the same week my father had his first heart attack. I'm not sure if that was a way to deal with the stress of the situation or something else. Over time, this evolved into a method for weight loss/management. Like Thom I come and go with running (I've gone over a year without running before)....but I always come back. For me, its the exercise that I enjoy - weights, swimming and cycling I can take or leave; running is always my preferred activity.
 
I started running because my then-girlfriend/now-wife was a runner and I wanted to be more supportive. At the time I was a pack a day smoker and wouldn't run 100 feet to catch a bus. We ran some local 10Ks and I got hooked on the race-day atmosphere and the feeling of crossing a finish line. I registered for my first marathon to create some additional pressure/motivation to finally quit smoking and had my last cigarette over two years ago - about halfway through a Higdon beginner training plan. After the marathon I tossed my New Balance marshmallows and started to focus on becoming a better/more efficient runner.

Now I have too many reasons to list for running. The most important one for me is the mental state produced by a long run. I call it brain coasting. Letting go of the controls and letting it go where it will. Ten miles later you only remember bits and pieces of what you've been pondering but you sure feel better. That's why I run.
 
Thats a tough question, so many reasons!

I think I just love the challenge. Little by little being able to see myself do more and more and faster too. The sense of accomplishment. There are few sports that I am good at - basically anything that involves coordination getting a ball of some sort into a hoop or a goal I suck at. Running is the one sport that I am actually decent at.

Then there is the health aspect, building strength and endurance, and possibly mitigating some of the carbs from those beers.
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There is a stress relief aspect to it as well I always tell my friends, but really I've found that I can never wear myself down enough except for maybe some races. I find chopping wood with an axe much better stress relief. ;)

Lastly I'd say I'm trying to recapture my youth, I mean I ran crosscountry in high school, and running now (especially after taking most of my twenties off) just brings back memories. I remember the feelings - I just can't push myself like I used to then... the feeling of utter exhaustion. Try as I may I havent come close to my best highschool times. Now I am closing in on them, so its a goal that is within the realm of possible, but only barely, so its a very difficult goal but I am determined to try.
 
I'm a 38 year old father of a 3 year old girl, which means I'll be a 50 year old father trying to chase off teenage punks one day. I've started my training early.

:) Our youngest was born when we were both 36. It's great to have kids around still!
 
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I'm a 38 year old father of a 3 year old girl, which means I'll be a 50 year old father trying to chase off teenage punks one day. I've started my training early.
I had my kids in my 40s. I don't know if I would've had as much patience if I had had kids in my 20s, but I hear you about dealing with teenagers at a more advanced age. I'm not looking forward to it. But I definitely want to be around and in good shape to play with my grand kids.
 
I had my kids in my 40s. I don't know if I would've had as much patience if I had had kids in my 20s, but I hear you about dealing with teenagers at a more advanced age. I'm not looking forward to it. But I definitely want to be around and in good shape to play with my grand kids.

Before I was born and when I was young, my dad was in shape. Over time (and 4 knee surgeries), he stopped doing anything active. When my first son was born we had a heart to heart where I told him I wanted him to be around to really know my son. It was the motivation he needed to begin running (that and free beer at the end of races. ;) )
 
Well, when social skills were shared amongst the people, I wasn't given any of that. ;) So, I'm kind of lacking few things and would be/used to be pretty depressed, but then I realized that if I exercise a lot, it keeps me pretty happy, without much social stuffs.. Back then I did martial arts, but it was quite dependent of other people and then I got two shift job, other shift blocked training times and in second shift I was too tired to do much and noticed that a full weeks pause in training caused huge drop of motivation. So I started running to and from work, even found some trails to do it almost round the year. And with running I can do daily training, with martial arts it was much harder, there are drills to do alone, but it's not very motivating.