Wellington Runners: What I love about running

The solitude it brings of knowing that it's a mere battle of mind versus body and nature.  The ability to zone out and pound the pavement, leaving every care in the world in your tracks.  I love running in the pouring rain, getting soaked in sweat when the high reaches 90 degrees, or in below freezing temperatures when the rest of the world thinks you're crazy and you know the real reason you're there.  Hitting the heartbreak hill late in the run and charging it with all you've got left.

 

most of all, it's knowing that I'm doing this for myself and no one else!

What I love about running is no matter what is going on in my life, good or bad, I have running. Running is what I consider my "Ferrari". Running gives me the drive to accomplish anything.

wondering how you are going to hit 15 miles on that "long run" 3 MILES in I doubt I will but somehow before I know it i'VE hit 12 then 13..and so forth..the knowing nod of a fellow runner. My grandfather ran..my mother ran,,,they both recently passed away but by this I still feel connected to them..It's our secret club!

I recon i am still fairly new to running, though am gettin better each week, up to 7n a half k's   3 times a week . i love to run in the rain feels so cleansing on my skin washing away the sweat , and yes it does leave u with happy endorphins that make you think hey thats was worth the effort, my mate just done the Reading half marthon , on race day i was so green that i wasnt out there as well , didnt think i was fit enough ( maybe i was just scared ) , but i will defo be there next year!!!!! i really enjoy my runs , clears the head as well as the heart. keep running every 1 its defo worth the effort :-)

Ain't that the truth..drchele

What I love about running...

It all started with proving people wrong. Those who told me I was just wasting my time being on the track team because "I couldn't run". So I started just running around the block.  From just running around the block, I ventured out to the steepest hills of my neighborhood.  All along I thought I was only running 3 miles.  So I invited one of my THEN friend from college to run the route with me.  For several days she wouldn't return my calls. Then, one day, she picked me up with her car and she drove the route.  Hahahaha!!! I'll never forget, 9.3 miles... It's gruesome training because of the inclines!!! All along I thought it was only 3.

I shifted from proving people wrong to testing the limits of how far I can go.  Steepest hills to distance.  I'm out there.  

Running has not disappointed me. We've had our good days and bad.  But running brought me great distances and from running I gained a LOT of friends.  It has also proven me wrong---many times.  It's painfully gratifying. The knowledge of "I can" is powerful.

I speak of running as if it were the best relationship I've ever had----because it is! :P 

hi jgreene i guess i kow what u mean hun about running being a lonely sport, though i really do enjoy running on my own , shamefully i do have a running partner , and hes really good even though he is much fitter than me, but i still do love the solo runs that i do on my own , i pump up my tunes n just go with the road, and yes like you i am now smoke free and so much fitter than i have been for many years, i hope u find a partner mate, but if not just keep doing what u enjoy and turn up the tunes they r a good running partner as well :-).

I love seeing other runners, even if I'm not running at the time. I am always inspired - I admire the fit looking ones; they make me want to strap on my shoes. But I really admire those who are clearly overweight or out of shape. Knowing what it takes to get out there when it feels bad - it's so cool to see people making it; they help me get over whatever excuses I come up with.

My new love of running is recovering!  I just took my first ice bath last weekend after a 16 mile run and was extremely impressed with how well it worked. I'll be using it after every long run now!

 My wife and I also ran 12 miles the weekend before while a 50k race was going on.  During our sprint at the end, the ultra runners were giving words of encouragement as we passed.  It felt great to have that sense of community with people we didn't even know but had a common bond for love of running!

^{I love running because it Changed my life!  I lost 150 lbs, stopped using tobbaco, and  now have learned to eat to live not live to eat!   IN the last 2 years I have ran 10 marathons and now RUN to LIVE!  I thank the lord everyday for what he has given to me these past 2 years!} 

ok, I'll try this - never done anything like it. I'm a little embarrassed because I am nowhere near as good at running as the rest of you, but I do aspire to run longer distances. I'm a 46 year old mother of three and try to squeeze in a good trail run most days. I have a dedicated running partner in my labradoodle and I try to run where she can go off leash (no more than 4 miles for her). During these times the natural beauty is astoundingly spiritual - gorgeous streams, a surprise pond, an unexpected rocky hill, the brilliant sunshine, the crunchy snow. Seeing the dog filled with so much joy is .... joyful for me. On the flip side, it's a treat to run the streets with out her too. I'm struggling with consistency. With a husband who's not home much during the week, a new job and 3 teenagers it's had to find the time to run much more than 30 minutes. I find 3 miles a breeze, and have been adding miles to long runs. Today I got up to 9.5 miles and am pleased with myself. My feet however, are throbbing as I write. They are so tired. I hate icing anything, but perhaps that would help. I hope by tomorrow morning I still have the enthusiasm to get in a good run. Reading all your notes is encouraging. I'm registered for my first 10K in June and think it should go pretty well. I'd like to try a half marathon between then and September. I figure if you guys can do it, I probably can too. I'll flash you a wave if I see you on the trails....

Texastim,  Thank you for the info on running in a Galloway group.  My wife and I are moving to Savannah, GA at the end of May from Pittsburgh, PA and I see that there is a Galloway group there.  We'll be sure to look them up when we get into town. 

 Another love of running...having a community of like minded people who understand the love!

There has been a common element in these posts...the pure satisfaction of running: positive addiction, the freedom, the accomplishment, the reward...a self-gratification; something no one can do for us...the team is you+  I love running, for every reason that you do...its a common heartbeat achieved by each of us individually. Great post.  thank You.

THE WALL!

Have you gotten to it a feel like death?

Its normaly about 19miles down with me, legs are like lead, sides are hurting like you have been stabbed!, heart and lungs want to give up, every fibre of your being is saying STOP.....................But you keep going!

2miles Later you feel like you have only done a mile!

HOW IS THIS?

I dont know but it is the BEST feeling in the world!

not being at work.

I LOVE the look on people's faces as you run past them, as if there is something wrong with you, haha. I also enjoy how alert I feel afterwards. I could be exhausted from work, muster up enough guts to go for a run and feel all refreshed after :)

 

<3-it 

Thanks to all of you.  I just finished reading your comments and feel so inspired.  I just started running (and biking and swimming) a couple of weeks ago.  I have always had "complete a triathlon" on my to do before 30 list.  Last year, I turned 30 and... well you can imagine.  NO TRIATHLON. 

My running is elementary at best.  I have begun a running program as recommended in the running/triathlon books (I have always been more cerebral than athletic.)  Most days as I am about to begin my run, I wonder whether I will complete it.  I think "okay the book says, for this week, 2 minutes walk/4 minutes run x 5."  My first day of running this amount.  I worry because last week I felt like I was dying with the 2 minute walk/2 minute run x 7.  A little voice inside of me says, "this is too much, we cannot do this."  I push these thoughts aside and begin.  Day one, the first set of 2/4 feels like I will collapse if I take another step. But I push through, finally I finish and I think, "I cannot do this again tomorrow."  Second day, I do not feel like collapsing until the third set.  Third day, fourth set before I feel ready to quit. 

And then I realize, it's going to be okay because my body wants this, needs this as much as it needs the air I breath.  I feel and see that with each step, I am becoming a runner; I am accomplishing something that will help me stand a little straighter, hold my head up a little more, smile a little brighter.  So here is what I love about running, it is purely about me and the road ahead.  My career success, wealth, love life, lack of children and other people's perception of all of these largely insignificant things do not matter.  The only things that matter are my body's capacity to do something wonderful and the road ahead. 

I love my new shoes. More than that, I love that I just got them on Saturday and now 3 days later I already have almost 14 miles on them! And the week ain't over yet!

I love that I've inspired my wife to start running. And I love that she bought me my new shoes! Of course, at this rate, they'll be getting old by fall! But that's what they're made for, right?