I am a Runner

Some people think I'm crazy. They will ask, "How far did you just run?" My answer is usually, "Just five miles." JUST five. I never really thought about it, but that's kind of an oxymoron.

Some people, when they get down, do things to make themselves feel better and relieve stress. Some resort to alcohol or drugs. Well, running to me is like a drug. I don't know if any of you have ever experienced a runner's high, but it is the best feeling ever.

Running is a time where I can sort things out, and because of this, I don't even realize that I am running. It is also a hobby I can have for the rest of my life. I want to be that 80 year old lady who still runs marathons. It's not like volleyball, football or basketball where you can only do it for so many years competitively. I can run for the rest of my life.

It's also a feeling of self-accomplishment. The reason I became a runner was because I was tired of being benched for softball and basketball. So I went out for cross-country and track my sophomore year of high school. What I found was, they couldn't sit me on the bench in these sports even if I didn't do well. If I did do well, I knew it was all me, and nobody else could take any credit for it.

I love running so much I have continued to do it in college. I only have one more year left, which makes me a little sad....but I know that after I graduate, it will be something I can continue for a lifetime. I am a runner.