5 Things I Love about Running

Man!

I had a great run today!  I mean, really, really good.  Just in case you're wondering, I ran 6.1 miles in 53 minutes (check out my data on Daily Mile at the link to the left).  So I felt really, really good.

This winter has been a tough running winter.  The weather has been cold... we have had more snow that last year... plus, having a son has added some complications to this year running-wise already.

But I love running still!  Here are a couple of reasons why:

1.  I love the challenge of doing something hard.  There are a lot of things that are easy in life.  Running... especially running distance (half marathons and full marathons)... is hard.  I like feeling like I accomplished doing something hard... something that not everyone has done.

2.  I love the exercise.  I love getting out and pushing my body and feeling good.  Plus, I don't feel quite as guilty when I roll through an entire pizza for dinner... :)

3.  I love the community.  I had no idea what the running community was like until I started.  Runners are accepting... encouraging... loving... challenging... devoted... among so many other things.  I love the #runchat community and have blogged about it often.  But even running down the road, when I see another runner, there is a smile, a nod or a wave.  We're in this together!

4.  I love the "head-space."  My wife knows that if I haven't been out for a run in a while due to weather or injury, she knows that she needs to get me out there.  She will even rearrange her schedule so I can run.  She knows that I need that time out there mentally.  There is something head-clearing for me about being out there.  I grab my shoes and iPod and I'm alone in another world for a while to think, pray, plan, mentally write and other important things.

5.  I love the accomplishment.  I love crossing the finish line... doing something difficult... and finishing!  I love putting that medal around my neck, whether its a local 4-miler or the Chicago marathon, I love finishing.  I love hanging that shadowbox on my wall with my medal and pictures and knowing that I did it!

There are so many other things that I love about running... but these are just a few of them.  If you love running too, put your favorite aspect of running in the comments below.  I'm interested in what you love about running!

Keep running friends!

JC


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Quick Running Tip Tuesday - #Runchat (5.8.12)

I've talked here often about the encouragement that exists within the running community.  It was actually a surprising find. 

Runners just like to encourage other runners. 

Runners also like to talk to other runners about running.  I have often found myself engrossed in conversations at Starbucks, church, at the office, the mall, Road Runners (where I buy most of my running gear), or just about anywhere about running.  The funny thing is, I don't want the conversation to end. 

Runners like to talk to other runners about running. 

If you're a runner... and you like encouragement... and you like to talk about running... and you have a Twitter account... Then you should be joining us for #runchat on Sunday nights. 

It's a free, twitter-based chat that happens on the second and fourth Sunday nights at 8pm EDT every month.  If you search within Twitter for the hashtag #runchat, you'll find us.  A couple of my buddies Scott and David ask running-related questions and we chime in with ideas, suggestions, experiences, etc.  Then the conversation begins!  We talk about everything and anything running related... gear... training... races... successes... failures... struggles... injuries... you name it!  Scott and David have even lined up some sweet give-aways to help spice up the chat a bit! 

It's great!
And it's free!
All you have to do is join us! 

If you want some more information:
Here is #runchat on the web...
Here is #runchat on facebook...
Or you can just check out #runchat on twitter... 

Also... those of us who are regular also include #runchat in with our running-related tweets throughout the week so that we can keep up with each other between chat sessions!  It's a great community!

Join us!
Keep running friends!

JC

Disclaimer (if you're into that sort of thing): Jim is not a professional runner nor is this blog endorsed by any company.  These thoughts are merely the thoughts and experiences on one runner.  What works and what doesn't work from a practical level.  Jim hasn't set any records, but he's run a few races (Marathon: 4h 22m / Half-Marathon: 2h 3m / 5k: 22m 57s) and he's been around the block!

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