Why I Run

This morning I woke up at 4:30 am to get in a run before work. My run/walk was four miles long, my farthest distance yet. While I was out there pounding pavement I started thinking about all of the reasons I was doing this. This is what I came up with:

I run for the girl I used to be
Alone and small, wrapped up in fear
I run for the woman I wish to see
Each and every time I look in the mirror

I run for pieces of peace of mind
Lost through the years of to and fro
I run to prevent becoming blind
To all of the places that I could go

I run for my soul and my heart
I run to keep my demons at bay
I run to keep from falling apart
I run for God and I run to pray


I run to do what I thought I could not
For pride I've never known before
I run for freedom that can't be bought
And I run for one reason more

I run for those without the choice
I run to take less than I give
To raise money, awareness, even a voice
I live to run; I run to live

I'll admit, it's pretty cheesy. But hey, it was 5:00 in the morning! No matter how it's written, the point is that I have many reasons for running. And the beauty of it all is that I can't think of one reason not to run (excepting injury). Not everyone runs for the same purpose. These are the things that inspire me and there are many more that I just couldn't get on paper. I hope each of you has a reason, or many reasons, to run. It is with these pieces of inspiration that we puzzle together a picture of who we are.

Now, why do YOU run?