Happy National Running Day! This is one of my favorite days of the year, even though I kind of celebrate it every single day😃
I created a few writing prompts to get us talking a bit more about what running means to us right now. Feel free to use these or write anything you want about why you run, and link up at the bottom of this post! You can make your own bib to show why you run by clicking here!
- Right now, I run because… it challenges me, it makes me feel complete, and it’s my opportunity to clear my mind. It seriously helps me to focus and get through the rest of my day more efficiently.
- I started running because…I talked a little more about this in last year’s post, but initially I ran to stay in shape for sports. Gradually, it became a way to exercise, and now it’s so much more than that. It’s a hobby, a passion, a part of who I am.
- When I don’t run…I feel like something in missing. During my time off a few months ago it was tough to get the same feeling from a different exercise. It definitely reminded me not to take running for granted. I think its nice to change things up and exercise in different ways, but to me there is nothing like the feeling I get from a good run.
- One thing that running has taught me is…I can accomplish more than I ever imagined. I love the feeling of pushing myself, challenging myself, and setting goals for myself.
- My favorite kind of run is…one that forces me to push myself. I do love an easy run, but actually prefer the days where I set out for a tough tempo run or speed workout and feel like I challenged myself throughout the workout.
- Right now my biggest running-related goal is…to continue getting stronger and stay healthy. Even though I’m no longer injured, I need to continue working on my strength and form in order to safely build my mileage and continue to add in harder workouts.
Oh, and there’s also this:
What is your favorite kind of run?
What is your biggest running related goal?
Feel free to answer any of the questions in the comments section, or add your own post and link-it up here! Be sure to check out a few other posts as well!
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I can relate to all of this really. I love how running clears my head and makes me feel like I can take on the day. You’re right in that it’s impossible to totally replicate that feeling with any other exercise. Also I’m about to go out for a “workout” and was feeling meh about it but now I’m inspired 🙂
Running definitely clears my head, I feel like a mess on days when I don’t run! I hope your workout went well this morning!
I may say I run for cake but that’s not the whole story! lol. I run for the same reasons as you and can’t imagine what my life was like before it included an almost daily run. No other form of exercise gives me the same positive feelings as running. Happy National Running Day!
I think the treats are just an added bonus to running! Hope you had a great run today!
I definitely share many of the same reasons and emotions as you when it comes to running. Now that I’ve been running I can’t imagine my life without it! My absolute biggest running goal is to run Boston some day, but my biggest one now is to finish my marathon in October.
I think its awesome to have short term and long term goals. I can’t wait to follow your marathon training!
Definitely feel you on just about everything that you said! I think that when you go through injuries like the ones that we have, you know that the body is a fragile thing, and that what you love can be taken from you very quickly. I guess that applies to life in general, too, huh?
Exactly! Its like the more I struggle with staying healthy, the more I realize how much I need running in my life.
My answers would be really close to yours! I love the hard workouts and long runs, they are my favorite! My biggest goal is just to push myself and reach my potential. I used to consider myself an average runner with times on the slower side, but in recent years I have realized that I can achieve things I never thought possible through hard work and believing in myself. I like your last picture 🙂
It’s so true- running definitely teaches us that we are capable of more than we think.
Great post! My favorite kind of runs are the ones where you start out and are like “ugh this is going to be brutal” but a mile in you hit your groove and wind up having a fantastic run. Those are the types of runs that remind me why I love the sport so much. My biggest running related goal would be to get down to a 3:05 marathon. One day I would really like to run sub-3, but I think that is going to take some serious time, and a lot of dedication. For right now, I feel like running a sub 3:10 is in the foreseeable future. Thanks for hosting this link up! Hope you have a great Wednesday : )
I love that kind of run too! Your goals are awesome…and its all about setting smaller goals to get you to your larger goals!
I love that you also started running for health and fitness, but now feel like something is missing when you don’t run (well don’t love that feeling obviously but what it means!) Because once you start running, I feel like it just hooks you, and becomes such an integral part of your life that not having it does mean something has been taken away, and that’s a good thing. If you don’t miss it when it’s gone, you aren’t loving it to the max when it’s there!
So true! And I think each time its taken away from me I realize that even more.
I agree- I love the runs where I push myself… so challenging but rewarding!
I usually get a nervous before those harder runs, but they always go by quickly and I feel so accomplished when they are done!
Love this!! I might have to write a second post for today just so I can link up. 🙂
You have such a great running story.
My biggest goal right now is very similar to yours. I spent so long going out all fired up, but now I’m working on being more careful, building strength and making minor adjustments to avoid injury. 🙂
HAPPY NATIONAL RUNNING DAY!!
The link up will be open for awhile so maybe you can write something another day if you don’t have time today! I think anytime running is taken away from us its a reminder to take things more seriously and we realize just what we would be missing if we couldn’t run.
Same here with the strength training. I added Pure Barre into my schedule because I’d heard good things, and after going, it’s doing one heck of a job targeting my weak hips and glutes.
Thats awesome! Glad to hear its helping you!
Love this! I run for all of these reasons too but the main reason is because running helps me manage my anxiety disorder and I’m so thankful that I have this outlet. I get all angsty and jittery and as soon as I lace up and sweat it out, I feel a million times better. Happy Running Day, Lisa!
Running is so great for mental health. Im so glad you found something that helps you so much!
I love runs that push me out of my comfort zone too! They usually suck while they are happening, but the feeling of accomplishment afterwards is always worth it.
Yes, exactly! I get all nervous before but then I actually find that they tend to go by faster than the slow, easy runs.
I feel the same way. Even though cross training is a great activity, I never feel the same as when I run. Having a glass of wine in the evenings after a run and not feeling is also great:)
As much as I have tried to like cross training I just don’t enjoy it in the same way as I do running! And gotta love some post-run wine:)
My answers to a lot of the questions would be very similar. I love those tough, push-the-pace runs, whether it’s a tempo run or a long run. Thanks for hosting the link-up and happy running day!
Those runs just seem more exciting to me lately! Even though they are harder, I feel so accomplished when they are done.
Running is just awesome. I wish I hadn’t waited to long to start. It keeps me motivated and challenged (which is something I desparately needed when I started). It’s so much more than plain ole’ exercise. Like you, my favorite kinds of runs are where I know I’ve pushed myself (whether it’s to run a new hill, run a new pace, or run a longer distance). I come home knowing I did good.
Its weird because I think once we start to love running we don’t necessarily think of it as “exercise” anymore even though it obviously is a great workout. Im glad you started running when you did!
This is a great post! I can’t imagine my life without running now. It just completes me! If we all could find something that makes us feel good, that is good for us, this world would be a better place. I feel better than I did 20 years ago! Thank you for the link up!
That is so awesome! You are so right- we all need something that makes us feel good whether its running or something else.
I love all of your reasons for why you run! I also love the feeling of pushing and challenging myself. Running is also my way to see you places or to fall in love with when I live.
Happy National Running day!
I love seeing new places by running too! And of course there is nothing like that feeling of accomplishment after a tough run.
I love your post! I run because despite the injuries and the frustrations and the setbacks that I’ve encountered, it makes me feel unstoppable. I have learned so much about perseverance and pacing and planning through running, and just how much you can get out of hard work. Even after a crappy run, I feel so much better, physically, emotionally, psychologically, than I do on days when I don’t run.
I totally agree! Even the worst runs are better than no run. Running definitely teaches us so much that can be carried over to other areas of our lives!
Thanks for hosting the link up! What a great way to celebrate the day!
You’re welcome! Thanks for joining in and Happy National Running Day!
Great link up! While, I do know that you are a runner it was really interesting to read more about “your why” when it comes to your love of running. Thanks for sharing, Lisa!
Glad you enjoyed it! Sometimes its nice to pause and think back on where it all started and how I got to where I am now.
haha love your last bib ;). I mentioned how much better I feel after a run in my post as well and how it just makes the rest of the day go much smoother than if I didn’t run. Getting strong is also my main priority this year, especially with starting marathon training towards the end of the year. And if it weren’t for running, umm I don’t know what form of exercise I would do. Nothing beats it and before I ran, my sister and I made it like a week at the gym before we both called it quits haha. It sounds like we have a lot in common!Thanks for hosting the link-up, Lisa! 🙂
Its so weird to try to think about what exercise I would do every day if I didnt run. I can only handle cross training a few days a week before I go crazy! I also feel like my day is “off” if I don’t run. Thanks for linking up! Heading over to check out your post now:)
I love this link-up! I wish I would have joined! I run for so many different reasons. I know I wouldn’t be the person I am today without running!
It will be open for a few more days if you still want to join! I agree, definitely wouldn’t be the same without running.
I run for the high that comes afterwards, to challenge my diagnosis of sports-induced asthma (pssssh), to experience my beautiful city, and to get outside in the sunshine!
Love all of this! I totally know what you mean about pool running, I like it – but it is not the same as running!!
Good for you on getting stronger and staying healthy. You are being smart by working on all the little things!
Happy National Running Day!
The reasons I run have changed over the years but the main reasons, to make me feel strong and to control my stress, are still there. Great post, and thanks for hosting the linkup!
Great reasons, and thanks for joining in!
Haha, I totally run for wine too! (I’ve had way too much lately though!) And the sense of accomplishment. Running is the one thing that I can really track my day-to-day, month-to-month, year-to-year progress in and see how far I’ve come. It’s kind of amazing and makes me feel good about what I can do! I was never very good at any kind of sport so when I started running, I immediately felt that it was something that I could actually do and get better at.
I can totally relate! And definitely to the part about running for wine:)
I Love this and I will add my link soon!!
my whole day feels off and weird when I don’t run…And its so funny how I have WAY more energy following a run than I do on a day where there is NO running done!
I definitely agree- I have way more energy on days I run!