I was asked to write an article about why I love running, and at first I started with a list of the tangible things like winning a race or getting that scholarship you've always dreamed of. I threw that list out. I don't love running for the awards or the elite achievements some people only dream about. That's not love; those things are only skin deep. After a while I made a new list, this time of things that we all have in common whether you're an All American or the slowest guy on the team. It doesn't matter because these are applicable to all of us who sacrifice ourselves all year to this sport that we cherish like no one else does.
# Running is an escape from everything that stresses us out like school, our jobs, the relationships we have, etc. When you run it's just you, and everything you do is in your hands. It's where you can let your stress out and take in all the world around you.
# The comradery of running is something that I will never forget. People you've never met are always willing to give you a helping hand or a pat on the back for working your tail off no matter what your time was or what place you finished. It's about your teammates who are there for you as your friends and keep you up no matter what happens to you.
# I love the competition that comes with running. It's that excitement of finally beating your rival or even finally beating the shadow next to you for that P.R. you've worked so hard to get.
# I love running for what it teaches you: responsibility, hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. In track no one is there to push you. You're responsible for making yourself into what you want to be. It takes hard work and the dedication to come out everyday no matter how tired you are or how sore you are from yesterday. You come out and give it your all for what you want to achieve.
# Lastly, I love running because unlike any other sport you can play in high school, it stays with you forever. You can take it as far as you want to. It's always there for you when you want to get away from everything. Run a marathon or just run for your health or to get outside and enjoy life because that's what its truly about.
Running is my passion and it will always be there no matter what life throws at me to stop me from enjoying all that it has to offer. When I can't run I find myself going back to the track because without track there's an emptiness and nothing else can fill it like running can.