Why I Run

“I never understand why people would pay to run something” is a the most common response when I tell people I’ve ran several 5k’s, four Broad Street Runs, and three half marathons. Whether it’s for a non-profit and for a cause or if it’s for a for-profit business, every race charges an entrance fee. Prices can vary on the time you sign up (the earliest is typically the cheapest) and availability of a spot (if you wait too long to make a decision, the race could sell out.  Swag, which is the giveaway, usually involves a race shirt in the beginning, and a medal at the end, in addition to food to replenish but everything else is up to the organization.

I despised running growing up. Playing sports, practice involved a lot of running and conditioning drills. Running laps was usually a form of punishment. It could be viewed as classical conditioning that when you were wrong, you ran laps.

Fast forward ten years, and I hadn’t played organized sports in forever and my knees were cracking more than they should have for a 27 year old. I danced a bit for musicals and for Disney, but not enough that it would be bad for my knees. I remember seeing something about the Philadelphia Phillies having a 5k and I got a bit excited. I love the Phillies and doing the math, I realized that a 5k is only 3.1 miles – NO BIGGIE! I could do 3.1 miles! (Plus they offer at least two Phillies tickets for each runner!)

Well… I soon realized that just like any sport, you needed to train. Running 3.1 miles cold turkey, without stretching or any sort of training, can cause more harm than good on a body.

Playlist ready, headphones on, and my shoes tied tight, and I was off training.  3.1, not bad, I thought. Boy, was I wrong.

Next thing you know, within the next month, the Broad Street Run was having sign ups for, what they called “The Largest 10 Miler in the Country”. It looked intriguing. Yet, to go from not running to a 5k to 10 miles in a matter of four months was going to be a big jump…

Back and forth, back and forth. Do I do it? Do I not? Do I sign up? Will I look like a fool?

Sign ups were at 9 and I kept emailing my sister to see if she wanted to do it. Well, she decided to do it and I waited too long to sign up. I was kind of disappointed because I decided I wanted to do it. Oh well, maybe next year. I still have the Phillies 5k.

About two weeks later, with Facebook being the social media giant that it is, I found out a friend of a friend was selling their bib. YES! I’ll get into the run. I paid the transfer fee, paid the person and I was in! Ruh roh! Less than six weeks to train! I better get running.

Using Apple’s iPod and the Nike+ app, I used the app to calculate how far I was running and how long it took me. I would run and walk two miles, then four miles, and then six. I realized couldn’t run three straight miles; there was no way I could even run and walk ten. Oy, this will be a long training.

I ultimately finished my first 5k towards the end of March, even if I did walk a bit, and I sensed a feeling of jubilation as I crossed the finish line and received my medal.

The Medal. Yes, it could be viewed participation award but it’s more than that.

It’s proof you finished a race. Proof that hard work paid off. Proof that things in life are worth it.

We do nothing in life for free. Nothing. Even when we do something for a friend or family member, we secretly want some sort of return for our time and effort. We need motivation.

We could run for free, but could stop without feeling guilty. When you sign up for a race, you’re dedicating time and money for the medal at the end, and the satisfaction of finishing a race you worked hard on.

Broad Street has had a lottery since my second year doing the race. Unless you sign up to raise money, you’re putting your chances in the hands of a computer. The other races are based on who is at the computer when registration opens up.

Each race expo tends to have stuff for sale, whether it’s gear, swag, energy food, glasses, or entrance to other races. They give the best deals for that day. It’s just a decision you have to make there and then for the best deal. Well, I finally took advantage of the race offer after enough convincing.

People say if you can run 10 miles, you can run 13.1. After barely even considering 3.1 miles in 2012, I couldn’t even imagine running 13.1! That’s a 5k and a Broad Street combined! But being this was going to be my second Broad Street, I decided to look. I stopped by the Rock n Roll Marathon Series™ and the date looked familiar (in not a good way), so I walked over to the Philly Marathon Series table. The deals looked good and so did the date: November 17. Besides being cheaper at the expo, they were going to waive a couple extra fees! The Rock n’ Roll turned out to be the day after Yom Kippur and there was no way I was going to run after fasting for half the day.

Since 2013, I have run at least one half marathon a year. Two Rock n’ Roll and one Philly Half. The trainings are more vigorous and you can’t go three or four days without running. Well my times have gotten better year after year, and I keep wanting more.

Marathon? Nope. There is no way I am even going to attempt a full. That’s two half marathons! The training alone would take more time than I want to consider.

Running is a sport in high school, in college, and even an Olympic sport. Most people won’t do them but they’ll do the races open to the public. In each race, there are prizes for placing in the Top-3 for each gender and age bracket.  Most people run for a PR (personal record) and knowing they are bettering themselves.

Running allows me to free my mind, get my aggression out, to not have a care in the world if I don’t want to, or it just allows me to enjoy the world around me.

There is nothing more motivating to a runner during a race than to watch people holding signs and supporting the runners. They’re creative, funny, and inspirational. The best part? They are there for us. They are there to really see one or two people run, but will stay to watch several thousand other people. No better feeling for a runner.

So sure, you want to run for free, do it. You’ll feel good. But while you’re running a road with lots of cars honking at you to get out of the way, I’ll enjoy it with people cheering me on and motivating me. I might pay for it with money, but I get paid with a medal, swag, and knowing I was able to complete something I worked hard to achieve.

Want to know who runs the world? Runners do.

Some do it for the medal. Some do it for the swag. Some do it for themselves.

Some just do it.