Here’s to the girls who still groan when it’s time to run the mile in gym class, the ones who cringe at the pacer test, and those who can’t bear the thought of a 5 minute jog. I’ve been in your position countless times and felt all the same feelings of hatred and resent towards the idea of running, so trust me when I say I feel your pain. But, instead of allowing my love for the couch to subjugate my desire to be a healthier and happier me, I took up the one thing I hated most. And unbeknownst to my former self, an infatuation with running ensued.
I won’t lie and say it came naturally to me, because it sure as hell felt like the most unnatural thing in the world. My body would ache at every stride and I’d return drenched and disheveled following a two mile run at an 11 minute pace. Needless to say, I am not a natural born runner.
Regardless of my countless L’s, I continued to pound the pavement every day and let my aspiration to be athletic help me through the tougher, sweatier times. And, as promised by the millions of Women’s Running magazines I read from cover to cover, I began to notice not only improvement in my endurance but an excitement for each of my upcoming runs. I had found solace in the thing that had once made my stomach turn.
In addition to the obvious physical changes happening to my body, I was noticing an overall improvement in my mentality. As stated by psychotherapist, Ashley Miller “Running promotes the production and release of your body’s natural pain- and stress-fighting chemicals known as endorphins. The release of endorphins results in what we call a “runner’s high.”’
Running is believed by some to have mental benefits that outweigh the physical benefits. Miller went on to say, “Running can help increase your self-esteem and feelings of self-confidence. It requires discipline, motivation, determination and inner strength — all qualities that can promote enhanced feelings of self-confidence and self-worth,”
As my journey continued and my skill developed, I was given the opportunity to join the girls’ cross country team at my school. Reluctant at first, I started showing up to practices and developed friendships with girls I hadn’t ever before seen in the halls of my school. Additionally, my low expectations were more than satisfied as I had the opportunity to run in a few varsity races and held a top ten spot on the team throughout most of the season.
In reference to running, Mcclain Acri, a senior at Pleasant Valley who participated in cross country all four years says, “Run run run a ton it’s a lot of fun to run,” Knowing McClain, I know there is some sarcasm behind the statement, but on a more serious note, Acri continued, “I developed amazing friendships through cross country and I didn’t always love running but nothing matched the feeling of reaching new PR’s. I can honestly say that cross country was just as much of a mental sport as it was physical,”
Varsity Spartan runner and state champ, Addie Swanson who has been running nearly all her life stated, “I love running because it’s a hobby I’ve grown up doing and I enjoy being able to compete and challenge myself while staying in shape and having a stress reliever all in one,”. But, as someone much less skilled than Addie, I can still confidently agree with that statement.
If you are more than content being the girl who hides behind the bleachers in gym class during the mile, then so be it. If faking a twisted ankle on the day of the pacer test is your thing, please continue to do so. If defiantly walking during a 5 minute warm up jog in gym class makes you proud, then more power to you. But as a former “all of the above-r”, I can tell you that there is a silver lining to every cloud, even those that involve cardio.
Running still may not be for everyone and that’s more than okay, it certainly wasn’t for me at first. But, eventually I did find a love in the ever-despised art of running and I do believe that experience can be applied to any new trade, hobby, or sport that I come across in the future. In the wise words of Tom Petty, I ran down a dream that never would come to me, and I’ll continue to go wherever it leads.
