Weekly Runner Photo Challenge: Why do you run? What is the main reason?
This week’s theme: Why do you run? What is the main reason? We all have multiple reasons why we run (physical and mental health, friends, competition, etc), but what is The One main reason you keep lacing up and getting out there? This is a little open-ended, so have fun with it! Be creative.
I thought this theme would be hard to answer, but it actually came to me quite quickly! It’s just hard to explain…
Besides all the obvious reasons for running, the main reason I run is to satisfy my innate need for adventure and exploration. I feel like I have to get out there and explore the world around me – I need to know what is out there! And there is something about exploring a new-to-me (or old-to-me) place on foot that really gets me excited. When I had to go to Louisville a few times last summer I ran all over town. I actually (surprisingly?) learned a lot about the city that way and loved every minute of it.
Whenever I travel, I look for trails and places to run. I feel embarrassed that there are so many trails in my home state (Iowa) that I did not know about. I am now in the process of checking them out! And I am really excited to visit my sister and her fiancé in Kansas this summer, because the town they are moving to has a lot of trails.
I also like to try new paths to get to places I already know. And try different kinds of runs too (trails, snow, hills… the only thing I am not sure about is those Mud Runs/Obstacle Course Runs).
It’s really hard to describe the need I feel to get out there and explore new (and re-explore old!) areas, but running fulfills it for me! (okay, and travel too!!!)
Do you feel the need to explore?
Themocracy
Yes always…the thing is..since I have only lived in Indy for a year, everything here is so new…every thing around this state will be new..I have the rest of my life to explore new stuff.
That is a super cool picture – it’s like the 4 seasons of running! I especially love the inset with the mud splashes – it makes you look like a really hard-core athlete!
Thanks Emily! That muddy race was so fun. It was Thanksgiving Day and we did a neat local race where you bring canned food donations for your entry! It was the first snow of the season and there was mud everywhere! My husband and I had a lot of fun. I miss racing with him!
I started running for all the wrong reason, it was just to burn calories at a time when that was the last thing I needed. But now I run because it satisfies my need to move in a way that nothing else can. If I run in the morning then I can down and successfully work for quite awhile. If I don’t run then I am up and down constantly and all over the place.
That is a great reason to run! You should write a post and enter! Do you read Maggie’s blog? 🙂 She’s great!
I love that this is your reason! Is it strange that I don’t really bother to look up places to run when I travel? There are so many great places that I get to go to, but I guess I feel like I don’t usually have enough time (or energy) to go do the run (or feel comfortable finding a safe area on my own) that I don’t do the research so I’m not all sorts of sad if I have to miss out on it. Oh well. I do look up silly things like the world’s largest easel: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/9183 and the Shining hotel (where Dumb and Dumber was also filmed).
Since I know your crazy schedule I know it’s NOT bad that you don’t look up places to run! You are so GO GO GO! When I traveled, it was for a few days and I felt like I HAD to get some runs in… otherwise I would be sitting alone in my hotel room!
Please tell me you have seen that easel in person?!!!
I like this post!!! I like my runs on our trails, it’s a little vacation from the hustle and bustle of life! Especially after being in the city all day! 🙂
I love this, even though it isn’t what I’d answer at ALL. Exploring is a perk for sure, but the main reason I run (outside of health and fitness of course) is SANITY. Plain and simple – I run or I’m a raging b*tch.
Great post! I would probably say that I hike and walk to explore areas and run for different reasons. Although last year, at a conference in a weird industrial park, it was a treat to actually find a trail in the woods not too far away!
I started running for health (I used to smoke and was pretty overweight), and then my running was mostly for weight maintence. Now, as a new mom, running has a completely different meaning – with my husband gone for weeks at a time, and me being a single mom of an infant, running (for the first time) has become more about mental health. I never really understood all the people who would say, “I run for sanity” or “I run to work things out in my head.” But I do now – I work from home 60+ hours a week, and take care of my baby for at least that many hours, so when I get out to run, it’s literally all about getting my head right in those 50-60 minutes. The other 15 hours of a day, I feel like a crazy lady, but when I get to run, I feel like my head is right. I can come back home and take on double duty again.
I think it’s really interesting how it’s changed for you! And am so happy running makes you feel that way 🙂
One of the things I admire about you is your sense of adventure and your love of exploring new trails. And I love tagging along on as many of them as I can 🙂
Thanks! Yesterday I was thinking about how we are going to bike that Iowa trail this summer! I am already excited about it 🙂
Love it! Thanks for participating!
I think about this a lot. I run to lose, I run to gain. I run for me.
[…] Ilax Studio: The main reason I run is to satisfy my innate need for adventure and exploration. I feel like I have to get out there and explore the world around me – I need to know what is out there! And there is something about exploring a new-to-me (or old-to-me) place on foot that really gets me excited. When I had to go to Louisville a few times last summer I ran all over town. I actually (surprisingly?) learned a lot about the city that way and loved every minute of it. More. […]
Oddly, I think, I run so that I can run. That is, I’ve never liked running and never felt very good at it, but I want to be better at it. So I run. I thought I might start to enjoy it at some point, and I think maybe that happened for a while a couple of years ago, but I really don’t enjoy it presently. I’m starting to think that I’m pushing too hard and if I slow down a bit I’ll enjoy it more.
Definitely just slow down and run by feel and someplace new… that always helps me get out of a rut and like it more! 🙂