Happy National Running Day

In case you don't have a million friends on Facebook and run and can tell you about the latest Hallmark holiday, today is National Running Day! What I think that means is today I can buy running gear with absolutely no guilt. Right?

But it's about more than that. It's about all the reasons why we run, and why running moves us.

My running story is pretty simple. I started losing weight, then plateaued. If I had to get on the elliptical one more time, I was going to scream. So I put on a giant Miller Lite T-shirt I won at a bar and $11 running shoes to go for a jog.

I hated it.

Initially it took me longer to talk myself into going for a run than actually completing the run. I looked for excuses to stop and legitimately thought I was going to die when I ran my first 5K.

But I kept at it. A mile or two here or there when I could, chipping away at the time and building my endurance.

It was a long road. Eventually, I found the runner's high everyone talks about, and I was hooked.

So why do I run?

For the sense of accomplishment.

Tower Triathlon

To eat more food.

Cabot trip

For the array of awesome gear.

To be part of a community.

To get skinny.

For the bling.

Karhu 5K

So when I'm old, I can say "I conquered that."

Ironman 70.3 Triathlon 

For the quest of getting better, day by day.

Because it makes me happy.

Vermont City Marathon

For me, and for my future, I run.

Why do you run?