Chasing Dopey: Why I Run

Why run when you hate it?

Good question. It’s more of a love-hate relationship. I only hate running leading up to the run and during. I love it when I can tap the little end “button” on my watch and check it off my training list.

Okay. Untrue, but honestly – the act of running can get boring, especially when you’re flirting with those longer distances requiring 90 minutes and over. Who wants to be alone with their thoughts that long, anyway?

I run for my health.

The average American allegedly walks between 1 – 2 miles a day. That’s considered “sedentary,” which isn’t great for your health. Sitting for long periods of time can be just as unhealthy as smoking.

I’m not saying you have to have some sort of mental break and run 10 miles a day (dear lord, no) – I tend to hyper-fixate on things – but I picked up running at the start of the pandemic because it sounded like a good idea at the time (you’ll notice that will become a reoccurring theme here) and I wanted to start taking better care of myself.

It makes you feel good.

I know – if you’re stuck inside on a treadmill, you may be reading this and wondering, “what mind-bending drug is this chick on?” None. The answer is none. My brain is weird enough without that crap.

I digress.

Exercising releases endorphins – those feel-good, natural chemicals your brain produces after shoveling a pound of chocolate into your face (or, apparently, spicy food). So, that joy you feel when the workout is finally over isn’t just the relief you’re getting after realizing you lived through it. It’s also the “happy” chemicals bouncing around.

The results are amazing.

I don’t run in 100% humidity through swampland and spiderwebs (insert huge shudder) because it’s fun. Aside from the aforementioned points above, I run because I enjoy the results. Not just the increase in my speed and my endurance, but also in my appearance.

I had muscles when I was a figure skater, but they apparently disappear if you don’t use them. And after 10 years of next to no exercise, everything I had built was long gone. Now that I’ve been putting in the time to exercise properly daily, I feel and look stronger than I have in a hot minute.

Why you should get active

Figure out why you would want to become more active. Is it for health? You’re interested in a specific sport? You want to try something new?

I know this blog is about running, but I get it that running is not an option for everyone. If you can, do a little research to see what type of activities spike your interest and see how you can get involved. I would love to hear about what motivates you to get moving!