Why do I run?

Why do I run?  I’m not really sure I know the answer to that question.  I started running about 2 years ago.  I guess in the beginning I ran because I had always wanted to.  I was always envious of those that I saw pounding the pavement day after day.  My stamina was next to zilch (I’ve played soccer most of my life but have not had a competitive game in five or six years) so I was scared to start.  Could I do it?  Would I have a heart attack?  Does running really ruin your knees?  At 36 years of age I decided to give running a chance.  I joined a gym, got on that treadmill and I ran.  My god how I hated it!  I didn’t have a plan or any discipline.  I just got up there and floundered.  Not to mention of being petrified of the bloody treadmill (I flew off one once trying to catch my Sony mini disc player that flew out of my pocket).  I could run for a few minutes but it was such a tedious drab affair that I just didn’t enjoy it.  I almost gave up on my running dream.

I than talked to a co-worker (and part time runner) about my troubles.  She suggested I do what she did when she started.  Walk for 4, run for 1, walk for 4 and run for 1.  Do this for 4 times a week for one week.  This seemed doable and much better than my current system.  So I tried it.  So I walked for 4 kilometres and then I ran for 1 kilometre.  I walked for 4 kilometres and then ran for 1 kilometre.  In total I did 10ks!  But I hated this system more than my old system!  I was so tired after walking for the first 4ks that it was difficult to then run for 1 k.  The next day I went to my co-worker to voice my dissatisfaction at her training regimen.  She laughed at me and said no you idiot, you walk for 4 minutes run for 1 minute!  Oh, yeah that makes more sense.  I tried her system the very next day and I loved it.  Before I knew it I was running for 30 minutes and losing weight.  I was in love with running.  It was about this time that the world fell apart.

I’m a Canadian living in Brisbane Australia. I’ve been living her for over 5 years.  One evening I got that phone call that all ex-pats dread to get.  My father had fallen ill and was on his death bed.  My ticket was bought the next day and I was leaving my beautiful wife, my job (with very little notice) and I was flying back home. 24 hours later (and no sleep) I am in my beloved Canada.  It’s airport pickup to hospital to see my father die 2 hours later.  That night was surreal.  I wasn’t feeling anything.  I felt a million miles away from everything.  I managed to get a few hours of sleep but it was disjointed and broken.  I left my bed, walked down stairs, put on my running shoes and I went for a run.  It was 4 am and 4 Celsius and I had had 4 hours sleep in 2 days.  It was the run of my life!  I transcended myself and everything around me.  The jetlag, the sadness and the guilt of not seeing my Dad for the last years of his life washed away from me.  The weight of the world left my shoulders.  Then, I didn’t run again for another year.

Why didn’t I run after that night?  I don’t know.  I tried.  I put on my boots and tried.  I just never let myself get back there.  It felt too much.  But slowly I came back.  I started off things right.  I bought some books on running.  I tried some different training methods, researched different kinds of shoes and started to play indoor hockey.   Last year I ran the 10k Bridge to Brisbane in one hour and nine minutes. 

So, why do I run?  I run because I’m 38 years old and my wife and I are talking about having kids.  I run because I want to get into shape.  I run because my goal this year is to run 15ks.  I run because my father died and I often think about him when I run.  I run because I love it.

I am writing this blog/training log as a testament to my struggles to run 15ks.  I’m going to include all my successes and failures and the very highs and very lows.  This blog will include my weight (and hopefully weight loss), training methods and equipment that I use to reach the 15k milestone.  I hope you come along for the ride and that I can inspire you and you can inspire me.  So what are you waiting for?  Start running.