HOW I FELL IN LOVE WITH RUNNING
Running has become a necessary part of my weekly life. I cannot imagine going more than two days without getting a run in, and most days I have to force myself to cross train with something else. I am well aware that running for many people is actually a severe form of punishment, or a last resort when stuck in a sticky situation. I used to be in that exact situation! However, through my journey of learning to love running, I have learned it is important to step outside of our comfort zones and try something that scares us.
My family is a family of runners. My dad was an amazing runner in high school, and I believe he even set a record at his school. My little brother carried on the family tradition by also being an outstanding runner in high school, and my mom has always had a passion for running recreationally. Quite a few of my aunts and uncles even run! I, however, was the black sheep of the family, and have hated running from a very young age. To me, it never made sense to get up early on a Saturday morning and push yourself to the brink of exhaustion, when on the flip side you could enjoy the ever-loved activity of sleeping in. When it came time to choose a sport to pursue, I chose cheerleading in the eighth grade. I had so much fun cheerleading, and am able to look back on those memories with great love in my heart. However, by the tenth grade, I was done with cheering. For some reason, I just did not enjoy high school cheer as much as I had junior high cheer, and decided it was time to move on to a new adventure. What would that adventure be?
You guessed it, running. I decided to sign up for Cross Country my junior year of high school. Running was in my family’s blood, so obviously I would be able to jump right in and excel, right? WRONG-O! It was terrible! I wasn’t awful at running, but I wasn’t great like my younger brother or my dad. Let me tell you, running in the New Mexico heat at three in the afternoon is just asking for people to hate running. As you run against the legend that is New Mexico wind, with dirt coating your hair and teeth (for real, your teeth), and bugs flying in your mouth, you begin to beg for an ankle injury of some sort to take you out of your misery. I dreaded going to practices each day. My junior year of Cross Country only fueled my hatred for the sport of running, and I could not imagine how anyone actually got any enjoyment out of this activity.
Fast forward a couple of years, I had just come home from my LDS mission to Michigan. Early. This was a very humbling experience for me, and when I got home, I was somewhat floundering. I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career, where I was going to go school, or how I was going to deal with the issue of migraines that had sent me home early. To say I was stressed was an understatement. My mom suggested running to help cope with my stress. Running? Really, mom? Do you not remember me ripping hair ties out of my tangled, dirt smelling hair? How is that going to help me relieve any stress? However, I was quite desperate, and was looking for way to get back into shape, and running (unfortunately) seemed like the perfect solution to my problem. Great.
I’ll admit, my first couple of runs were a little rough, and certainly not fun. However, once I realized that I did not have to run in the New Mexico heat at three in the afternoon, and I did not have the weight of a specific time pushing against my mind, I actually began to enjoy running. Now, almost two years later, I cannot imagine my life without running. It is such a blessing in my life, and one I sure do not take for granted. For 30-60 minutes a day, I can escape my thoughts and just run. I love the sound of my feet pounding against the pavement, and can sometimes actually feel the stress seeping out of my body with each strike of my foot. Not every run is a great one, and not every run is always wanted, but no run is ever regretted.
So, is there something new that you have been thinking of trying, but something is holding you back? Or maybe you have tried something in the past, and have put up mental blocks to protect you from it. Whatever the case, it is so important to be willing to step out of our comfort zones, and find something that we are passionate about. I am so grateful for a mother who encouraged me to try running one more time, because now it is my much needed escape from everyday life. It doesn’t have to be exercise related! Maybe you get lost in playing music, cooking, designing clothes, crafting! It doesn’t even have to be something you are particularly good at! I am most definitely not the best runner in my family, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying the sport, and allowing it to give me great confidence. Step outside your comfort zone. Find your niche. Find your stress reliever. Give yourself the much needed confidence boost. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.