Why?
It’s such a simple question. Yet this simple, three letter question lies at the very heart of what it means to be human. Why does it rain? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is the sky blue? Why are size 8 Nike Zoom Matumbos so hard to find in September? And why, for God’s sake, are all the running shorts that I deem short enough to train in located in the ladies section? The list goes on and on, literally encompassing every experience of life. Once again, I’m writing this blog in Belmont’s library, and as I look around and see four floors of uncountable books (5 of which are on running!), it strikes me that this place is a testament to the question of, “why?” Books have been written on just about every subject imaginable to answer the various forms of this very simple, yet very fundamental question.
And, (I will presume everyone that reads this is or was at one point a runner, as this is a running website..) perhaps the most frequent and annoying question we as runners face from running-laypeople is, “Why do you run?” Usually said question is accompanied by a look of deep, deep confusion and asked in a tone suggestive of their suspicion that we are, in fact, completely insane. I’ve heard all the incredulous remarks before, and to be honest I don’t think anyone who doesn’t run would ever really understand. So, most of the time I simply don’t answer the question or I’ll give some lame, nebulous response with no real substance. I mean, honestly, it’s almost as bad as when some less-than-flattering physical specimen of a person yells “Run Forrest, Run!” and chortles at his highly imaginative wit.
But when I’m asked this question, it does get me thinking: what is it that they won’t understand? What exactly is the reason I run? Because, to be fair, they have a valid point in asking why we run. Humanity has spent thousands of years building civilization and advancing technology precisely so we wouldn’t be subject to some of the very primitive facets of our nature (such as running). It brings to mind the quote from Bill Bowerman in the movie Without Limits, “Running, one might say, is basically an absurd pastime upon which to be exhausting ourselves.” So why, then, do so many of us continue to do it? To help answer the question, I asked some of my loyal followers on twitter to chime in on why they run. As it turns out, the answers varied tremendously. I’ve tried to group the responses I received according to category.
The most common responses I received dealt with competition and success:
tracy harris (@tfltft) wisely tweets:
@ImZacKnotZacH To feel free and that I'm in control & can do anything. Nothing feels as complete or powerful as succeeding
Sam Lewis (@SamVLewis) elegantly tweets:
@ImZacKnotZacH @kytrackxc Because theres nothing better than finishing a race or a workout, knowing that you achieved what you set out to do
Emily Bean (@emily_bean) smartly tweets:
@ImZacKnotZacH it puts me in a better mood. You can eat whatever you want and not get fat. I like competition and accomplishing things.
Jacob Thomson (@jtcougars8) concisely tweets:
@ImZacKnotZacH to compete
This sentiment of competition and success is something I personally can deeply relate to. Competition is an integral part of human nature and something that likely drives every runner. For me, nothing is as thrilling as burning down the backstretch in the last lap of a track race neck and neck with someone. There is something primeval, powerful, and pure about flat out racing someone to the line with every ounce of energy in your body. Competition is integral as to why many run. But in mind, there are other ways to be competitive (be it another sport, call of duty, school…). What else drives us to run, then?
The next most common response I received regarded loyalty to team:
Kayla Alsup (@Koalas4Life124) correctly tweets:
@ImZacKnotZacH @kytrackxc for my team. And no matter how I run, good or bad, it gives me something to look forward to. It keeps me going
Keightley Dudgeon (@KeightleyD) affectionately tweets:
@ImZacKnotZacH @kytrackxc because I love my team! And it's something you put your heart into. Definitely not like any other sport!
Katherine Receveur (@katreceveur) rightly tweets:
@ImZacKnotZacH what I get in return, I'm sure the assumption team all agrees with that
This notion of loyalty to team is also something I can relate to. For more info see Zack Beavin’s second blog post. I hear it’s a good one.
The next most common response I received had to do with “the ladies” and SpongeBob:
Jimmy Paul (@jimmykpaul) thoughtfully tweets:
@ImZacKnotZacH For the ladies.
Chris Striegel (@CStriegz) ridiculously tweets:
@ImZacKnotZacH girls in spandex, and hauling (explicit reference to the gluteus maximus removed) down the final straightaway and seeing that big ol PR makes it all worth it #oobaby
Mark Johnson (@MarkMyJohnson) unthoughtfully tweets:
@ImZacKnotZacH To talk about spongebob with you.
*No comment.
Lastly, with only one tweet, is what I dub the Zen category:
Christina Rucinski (@cmRucinski)beautifully tweets:
@ImZacKnotZacH you don't have to worry about anything else that's going on in your life but that one run
Thank you, Christina, for putting so wonderfully into words my sentiments exactly. If I could not compete for some reason, I would still run. If I had no team, I would still run. If running got me no ladies (if…) or didn’t offer an avenue in which to discuss SpongeBob, I would still run. When it comes down to it, at its very core, I run simply because I love to run. It is so relaxing and surreal in an otherwise hectic world. Humans evolved as runners, dashing across the vast plains of Africa in chase of food. Blame dopamine and endorphins that flood the brain, blame evolution that crafted us as the most efficient long distance running animals on the planet, but running just feels right. Most of our society has forgotten that. Runners haven’t. We’ve embraced our evolutionary, and perhaps in many ways to some people, spiritual, origins. I won’t stop until my knees give out, at which point I will coach younger runners who share this same love. Running is who I am, and what I do, and nothing about that will ever change. That is why I run. Why do you run?
*I received one final tweet that didn’t fit into any category:
Thomas Cave (@tcave32) awesomely tweets:
@ImZacKnotZacH so stx can shock the world and break records in the 4x8
I must admit, there’s no arguing that. A beautifully stated tweet from an tremendously awesome anchor.
