Whhhyyy?

I wish I had a dollar for every time someone asks why we are running? Why we want to do this race? Why we put ourselves through this? I don't have a concrete answer. I have a lot of reasons, some are reasonable and some are just, well crazy.

I have a love/hate relationship with running. When I decided to start running three years ago, because I am not a natural,it began as more of a challenge. That, OMGosh, I am 30 and I need to do something, and a marathon sounded like a perfectly rational idea. I literally went out and bought a treadmill and started with a mile, most of which I walked. I ran on that stupid machine every day, without fail for 10 weeks. I wouldn't say I enjoyed all of it, but I got hooked. It became an addiction and I needed that high. After 10 weeks I headed outside. I ran my first 5k, and then 10k, and within 6 months I had ran a half marathon. Running gave me an escape from my kids and my job and everything. I lost weight, and got muscles and then I gained weight and lost inches. People started to comment on how good my legs looked. Every time it was time to train and I tied my shoes and thought, 'today I am not feeling it', I would remember how good it would feel to lay in the grass when I was done and know that I had just burned 900calories and if I wanted to eat ice cream for dinner, I could. Then I started training for the marathon, and I began raising money for St. Jude. Every time I received money as a donation I felt like I needed to run to show my appreciation for the donation. Like I was doing the work and they were paying by donation. SO then I got hooked on other people's money! I know how silly that sounds, but it's true!? I got addicted to not only running, but raising money for charity. If only every one's addictions were so terrible.

Don't get me wrong, there are days when it just isn't there, and I'm not feeling it and I curse myself and my shoes, and the treadmill and the sidewalk and the maker of my sports bra. and ...well, you get what I am saying.
I am not a natural runner, I have to work at it. It isn't easy for me. I am not a fast runner, and sometimes I walk more than I run. BUT, I get out there and I continue to do it. And I have enthusiasm. Some days, I am a rock star! I love what running has done for me. My health is better. I will not die at age 45 from a massive heart attack, like my dad. Not if I can help it. My body looks better, and I feel better about me. It is good for my mental health to have alone time or the camaraderie I have developed with the slew of people I have drug in to this addiction because of my enthusiasm.

Now instead of it being just me that is on a running high and addicted to donations, I have a gang. We are all taking care of ourselves and impacting our community with our enthusiasm for running and raising money for Judi's House, which I believe is a worthy charity.
We'll bring anyone in to our circle of friends. We'll coach you and help you get your best foot forward. You just have to be willing to take the first step. After that we can't be responsible for the addiction, and trust me, you will get hooked. Does it hurt sometimes? yes! DO you have bad days? Yes! Do you question why you are doing this stupid running thing? Yes! But is it 100% worth it? Yep!