The Reason for Running

Last night I did 35 minutes elliptical after a meeting at church. I'd like to have gone more but I ran out of time (the community center closes at 9:00). I can see scheduling is going to become more difficult. Between work, church meetings 2 nights a week, running the kids to baseball and dance its tough to squeeze in a workout. Sometimes I run late (like 10:30pm) which I usually enjoy once I get started. Other times I poop out and skip that day's workout entirely. If I want to meet my goal I have to stop doing that. I wish I was one of those weirdos who gets up at 6:00am to run.

Many people have been asking me why I started running. I usually laugh off the question and say something like, "I was having a mid-life crisis". The truth is that the real motivation to run is more complex and maybe more personal too.

When I began training, my goal was to run a marathon once to say that I did it. I remember clearly thinking, "It will be a defining moment in your life". I wanted to be the type of person that sets big goals...and achieves them. And what's bigger than completing a marathon? When playing that game Two truths and a lie I wanted one of the truths to be that I've run a marathon. Silly huh.

But today my motivations are more diverse. I still want to do it to achieve something great, but there are three new reasons that have popped up:

3. I've told so many people about it that if I back out now I'll really look like a quitter and a loser.
2. Health reasons - I like being more physically fit and weighing less.
1. I believe me running a marathon sets a great example for my kids.

I believe that by setting a big goal like running a marathon, I am inspiring my kids to do big things. I can tell my kids, "work hard in school" but the truth is that working hard in school is not fun. How can we motivate our kids to push themselves? How can we inspire them to do something that they don't want to do? ...to make themselves better? ...to endure short term 'pain' for a long term 'gain'?

I believe that the best way to inspire them to greatness is to be an example. When I run, my kids hear my labored breathing. They see the pain on my face. They see how much fun I'm not having. Yet I endure. I do not complain. I finish my run and get closer to my goal.

Though this process I believe that the attitudes of my kids are being subtly changed. I believe that because of this goal I set for myself, they will be inspired to set goals of their own. It has had another unexpected impact...my kids are becoming runners. More about that in another post.

It's interesting to me that what started out to be not a motivating factor at all (setting a good example for my kids) has become maybe my biggest motivator.