Running - What made you start running?
By sleepykitty
@sleepykitty (14)
Singapore
November 27, 2008 11:39am CST
Everyone has their own story as to what made them get off the couch, lace up their Asics' (or Mizuno's, in my case) and head out the door for a run. Mine's pretty corny.
Unlike myself, my girlfriend's pretty athletic, so I was forced into making a promise that we would run the year end half-marathon together. And so the training began. She would drag me to the track near her home and I would proceed to trudge loathingly behind her. Every session was such a dread and I would always complain about the aches and pains at the end of it all. She was pretty annoyed with my constant complaining at first, but I guess she grew immune to it.
Little by little, I began to realize the joy of running. It didn't become such a burden anymore. I challenged myself by adding more miles and increasing my pace. I became fitter, felt stronger and felt more alive. It was such an awesome feeling to be able to cross the finish line of the half-marathon together with my girlfriend. Although we have broken up since, running is still a big part of my life. It serves as a form of 'sanity maintenance' and a remedy for long, tiring days at work. :)
Do share your stories :)
1 person likes this
9 responses
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
28 Nov 08
i started running because i figured that was the only way i can get away from my annoying wife. lol!
seriously, i have a busy work schedule and since i'm not a big fan of gyms, i figured running will be the best sport/exercise for me. i also walk a lot. if i can take the stairs i do it instead of taking the elevator.
back to running, there's a park with a jogger's path near my office so it works well for me. plus i don't ahve to bring a lot of equipment or things when running, i just bring my jogging pants, an extra shirt, my running shoes and my pedometer and i'm all set. haven't joined a marathon yet but i'll be doing so next year. in fact, i'm training for it already.
cheers!!!
@sleepykitty (14)
• Singapore
28 Nov 08
Yea the things needed for running and jogging are simple. Shorts, Shirt, Shoe. You can omit the shirt if you feel confident about yourself though. :P
And btw, lose the pedometer and get a heart-rate monitor instead, preferably one that has a distance measuring device (I believe it's called a footpod). I'm using the Polar RS200sd right now and it's great for measuring distance for runs.
1 person likes this
@LaurenInLA (2270)
• United States
27 Nov 08
I started to run in the 80's when the running craze swept across the country. When I first started, I thought that it would be a great way to control my weight. The first day that I laced up my shoes, I couldn't even run a quarter of a mile without huffing and puffing. Once I got to my first mile, I was hooked. Then of course, I wanted to run a 5K and then a 10K and then a half marathon. I can't imagine a day without a run. It clears my head and puts things in perspective. Amazing how many problems I can solve when I'm running that I wasn't able to solve all day.
1 person likes this
@sleepykitty (14)
• Singapore
28 Nov 08
Running for me, is the best time to think of a solution for a problem that you encountered during the day. I guess things just become more clearer thanks to the increased blood flow and all the endorphins floating about in your body.
I too, use it to control my weight. I was slightly on the heavy side before I started running, after a couple of months later, I can see myself getting ripper by the day! Haha
1 person likes this
@thecrazyjogger (3178)
• India
27 Nov 08
well i started cuz i was gettin depressed n i wanted to feel btter!
@raven66 (335)
• Canada
27 Nov 08
I use to be a fanatic about running back in the early 80's , I also ran 4 marathons and many 5, 10 and 20kms road races.
So.. what was it that made me go out and train every day?...
I got to say 1st. * the rush and natrual high I got from pressing my limites , 2nd the satisfaction of continuous improvment on my times..3rd I enjoyed the dicipline involved. along with all the friends and people I became great partners with..
But when it comes right down to it .. In the Running world I find its that PAIN and Suffering that you always feel when striving to improve your stride, speed endurance and overall form.
1 person likes this
@sleepykitty (14)
• Singapore
27 Nov 08
I totally agree about the 'pain and suffering' part.
Kinda reminds me of a quote that I keep locked in my head, "If it hurts, go faster!"
1 person likes this
@Fromheine (11)
• Lithuania
30 Nov 08
Healty and faster way to travel when u can't do it with transport
1 person likes this
@Toony182 (256)
• United States
18 Jan 09
I ran cross country and track in high school - my dad got me into it as he had been a very good runner when he was in high school.
So I made varsity my freshman year with a lot of hard work, and was getting very good at it.
From then on I just kept at it, and still run every now and then now.
1 person likes this
@cubshater2008 (307)
• Ecuador
10 Mar 09
For me, it was out of necessity that I began running, but my love of it is why I keep on running.
I am a soccer and basketball player, and play both club (traveling) and school soccer, where I played Varsity as a Freshman last year, and to play soccer at a high level, you need to be in amazing shape. So it was either start running by myself or kill myself during two-a-days in August. I took the running option. Now I run whenever I can, love my Air Pegasus Nike shoes, even got the Nike+ sensor to track my runs (I highly recommend it).
I plan on continuing to run my whole life, hopefully doing some marathons one day.
@savitha_r86 (904)
• India
28 Nov 08
Well my flabby skin made me run!! 
well,I don't remember exactly but then I ran so fast when a dog chased me,can never forget it. Anyways,I keep running inside my house or up in our house's terrace 
well,I don't remember exactly but then I ran so fast when a dog chased me,can never forget it. Anyways,I keep running inside my house or up in our house's terrace 
@ank_47 (1959)
• India
6 Feb 09
if i tell my story u all laugh at me,because once when i am in college age, i have went to private tution and coming to house by walking and when i am just one lane ahead near my house ,one man is following me and saying bad words, and i came from there by running.i reached home in a hurry running, but not in a staight road to my house .i went back side of my lane and come to house in a full swing running without seeing that guy .he didn;t follow me thats other matter ,but when i remember it now ,i laugh at me because at that time i can go any one's house which is in my lane,as i know every body ,but i went to back side lane and came to my house .no one at that time have seen me ,otherwise i feel ashamed in front of them .
i thought at that time (after running),i didn;t know i am such a good and fast runner.
but i go for walkings only in this days in walking track near our house.now no running.
