Dear Non Runner,
Yes, sometimes I run for over 2 hours straight, just because, mainly because I can. I think about how many people out there can't do that and it makes me feel strong, like I can face all the other things in life that are worse than running for over 2 hours straight. Yes, it hurts. It always hurts, but I keep doing it.
I run for people who don't know I'm running for them. I run for my niece who has a physical disability. I run for my friend with lupus who lives in constant pain. I run for my 86 year old grandmother with severe arthritis. Running is a way for me to say thank you to God for blessing me with a strong, healthy body.
Running helps me forget and move forward. While running I can escape from my mind, my obsessions, my depression, my anger, my hurt, my loneliness, my indecision, my anxiety, my negative thoughts, my over analyzing, my what ifs, my unanswered questions. Not always, but often enough that it makes a difference.
I know you think it's crazy, running 5 1/2 marathons in 6 months, having to get up at 4 am on race day, running 10 miles on a treadmill, trying out an indoor 1/2 and actually enjoying running 48 laps in a circle without headphones. But I think you're crazy too. We're all crazy. I'm just crazy about running.
Signed:
The Runner
