We run to be fierce and powerful

Today I ran 11 miles. On a hilly course. And I did get a blister. But I survived.

I thought of this video around the 9 mile marker (you know it’s funny!):

When I first started running, I followed the infamous Couch to 5k program. I liked that it had a schedule and told me what to do. I had tried running before at various stages of my life such as high school and then later in my 20′s. With all of those instances, I bombed out. My knees killed, I burned out fast, and I was most likely always in the wrong shoe – I had no idea what I was doing. Back then, no one told me “how” to run, the idea was to just go out and do it. Thankfully, nowadays there are more accessible running programs and tools to help guide you through this sport safely and in a more successful manner. (Note to self, good future article post and I will do one soon on how the REAL every day person can go from the couch to a half marathon.)

Why did I start running?

Source: healthyfitandtoned.tumblr.com via Christina on Pinterest

My immediate answer is that I run to feel powerful. I’m the type of person who needs goals and challenges. I must confess, I’m a bit high energy. Don’t get me wrong, I love a long deep sleep … who doesn’t? However, what drew me to the return of trying to run is mainly my age bracket. I don’t want to just “get older”. I want to “age with grace and health and pizazz!” I want to feel powerful as I enter new decades! It also does worlds of wonder for confidence building – and we all can use some confidence boosting, just look at the statistics for depression.

“15% of the population from high-income countries (compared to 11% for low/middle-income countries) were likely to get depression over their lifetime with 5.5% having had depression in the last year.”

Just do it! Really, don’t think, just do it.

It’s a completely satisfying sport for anyone, helps battle the blahs, and you don’t have to be a high school jock to do it. It is not instantly easy but there are no barriers to entry for the average mobile person other than mental road blocks. I see “runners” out in my town who are large, small, tall, short, old, or young. Some shuffle along, some walk/skip, some power walk, some ground pound paces in the 7 mile/minute range, but everyone is doing the same activity and they all feel good when it’s over. There aren’t many other sports or fitness activities where almost ANY grown adult can participate in and feel a sense of achievement. With running, you can be a winner just by crossing that finish line. A Finisher!

Get on out there, walk or run, and just cross a finish line in a race. You will feel such a high from the achievement of earning a medal. And ladies, if you need some extra motivation, buy yourself a cute little outfit. Who says you can’t do it in style either? I’m personally addicted to cute Nike slogan running tees, how can you not feel awesome in one?