I have been so inspired over the last week. As many of you know (*and I hope you all entered) Nike & Airbnb have partnered to send 10 lucky runners to witness an attempt at history in Italy this May (Breaking2). Three Nike athletes will attempt to break 2 hours in the marathon!!! A feat that is controversial and has often been said to be impossible. But I find it truly exciting and why not try??? 
The contest was simple you had 550 character to answer the question ‘why do you run?’
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to read some of the submissions. And it was amazing to see how important running is to people. For a lot of people the exercise and activity you get out of it is just a bonus, and running to them was so much deeper. I have always felt this way but it was remarkable to read about other people’s experience in regard to running.
This of course made me want to investigate deeper in to the reasons I run. And it truly is hard to put in to words let alone 550 characters as the contest required. So, I figured I may as well write a whole blog about it.
It is a tough question to answer for multiple reasons…but mostly because it is not a question to me. I cannot imagine my life without running. It has been the constant that has always been there for me on good days and on bad days. It has taught me so much about myself and about life. It has had a huge impact on the person I am today. I would not be where I am or who I am, without running. It has pointed out weaknesses and embraced my strengths. But always forces me to become better. I have raced hundreds of races in my life and ran thousands of intervals and never once have I felt like there was not something to be learned from each experience running has to offer. I love that running is a competition against ones self, today’s time versus yesterday’s time… can you be better then you were the last time you lined up? And if not, then why? What changed and where can you find your next improvement. Running is a constant game of little tweaks to training and other habits that all have an impact on the end result. Whether the result is a qualitative (how you felt) or quantitative (in time goals).
I have been running competitively since before I was 12 years old; when I quickly fell in love with running. So much so that as a 12 yo I would get up before school and run laps of my yard (*I am from the country and my parents would not let me go out on the roads alone).
Running is ingrained in my life. It has been at differing levels of importance but is always there. That being said, it continues to be one of the most important parts of my life but I trust that one day when it does get knocked down by the rest of life, that it will still be there in whatever capacity is appropriate. At present my days basically revolve around running. When I eat, what I eat, when I sleep, how much I sleep, when I work etc. is all dependent on my running that day.
Running is when I feel most like myself and at my absolute strongest. A day without running never feels quite right, it always feels like there is something missing. (*that being said rest days are important too!!!). It is my me time to check out from the rest of the world and think about absolutely nothing, or something.
Even though running has broken my heart on multiple occasions I can’t help but go right back and fight to make my relationship with running stronger.
I will admit at times I am quite addicted to it and my relationship with it can sometimes be less than healthy. But it is something I am constantly striving to make better. I just cannot get enough of it.
Running is the best way to see a new place. It is one of the first things I do when I am travelling and in a new city.
The running community is also absolutely amazing. I have met so many incredible people through running and I hope that never changes. It is truly unique to be a part of a community where everyone wants everyone to succeed. I feel so fortunate that I have the opportunity to show others through coaching the absolutely love and joy I have from running.
I could go on for days about my love affair with running but I thought I would end it on a quote from my high school running days:
‘I will never marry anyone unless they make me feel the way running makes me feel’. Well I have since been married and I have since realized he does not need to make me feel the way running does because running will always be there. But he is pretty great as well!! Haha
So in many more than 550 characters this is the reason I run.
PS. Congrats to everyone who ran Boston today!!!!
PPS. Nike & Airbnb if you need an 11th…. I can make myself available
Toronto Running Chiro 