The Runner’s Secret

Let’s be real here...I’m not the fastest runner. I’m not going to break any records, I’m not going to win any marathons and some days I run slower than the day before. But what I lack in natural ability, I make up for in commitment and dedication to the sport. I run a lot. I run regularly. I am a runner.

But winning races has never been the point for me. In fact, winning races, although momentarily gratifying, is probably the least enjoyable thing about running. 

People in warm cars pass me in a hurry to get where they need to be while I run in the cold rain on a dark morning and probably wonder why I would ever subject myself to that. 

So what is the runner’s secret? If it’s not about winning or being the fastest, what’s the point? I run because it makes me feel alive. It connects my mind, body and soul in the most beautiful way.

Running is a deep meditation for me. Some people do yoga, others sit in meditation...I run. Without fail, if I’ve been mulling over something or trying to solve a problem and unable to find a solution, all the clarity and answers I need are found along my running trail. There’s something about the physical exertion of running that silences all of the distractions and noise in my head and makes everything clear.

My most creative ideas and deepest inspiration come to me while running. This is so reliable that  if I’m feeling stuck or stagnant my husband lovingly reminds me “you should go for a run”.

There is something so beautiful about the flow of running. Sometimes the first few minutes are tough but then you get that runner’s high (it’s real!) and you feel like you could run forever. Our bodies crave movement, they are designed to move and that high always feels like a celebration when I give my body what it wants.

I feel most connected to my body while I’m running - my feet hitting the pavement, the oxygen flowing through my lungs, my arms and legs moving in sync. And while I run, I always (especially recently) feel deep gratitude for my strong body that carries me along the trails and does everything I ask of it (also evidenced by my recent rock climbing adventures but I’ll save that for another post!). 

Don’t get me wrong, some days are harder than others to get motivated. Especially on those cold, dark winter mornings when it feels easier to stay in my warm bed. But I do it anyway because I’ve made that commitment to running. I’ve given that gift to myself. And I never ever regret going for a run because that’s where I connect most deeply to me. 






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