Why do I run?

I'm sure I've lost any small amount of COG readers I had with the long delay between posts, but here goes:

I had an interesting conversation today, and really a post by fellow blogger Lisa made me think. Lisa had run in the Bayshore Marathon over the holiday weekend, and due to some miscommunications, had no friends or family at the finish line to cheer her across. It disappointed her, and rightfully so. It made me remember my first race experience.

I was entered into my first 5K last year (almost a year ago this week, actually). I was excited about running, anxious about finishing and really just geeked about the experience. It was a Race for the Cure event, which anyone familiar out there can tell you that the attendance is in the 35K+. My family and friends were walking the event, and I was the sole runner. And since it is a female bonding event for myself and my friends, Mr. COG was at home.

The morning was sticky and hot, but after some perserverence I was able to see the finish line. The running finish line is separate from the walkers (as the walkers would be too much of a crowd for someone that is running to get through). So at this event, there was a small crowd gathered at the end to cheer us runners on. But, for my first running event, not one of those faces was familiar.

As I crossed the finish line, I felt a bit of a letdown. I mean, if a tree falls in the forest but no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Well, after a moment of feeling disoriented, I asked myself "Why do you run?" (I was exhausted, so I may have said this out loud). Is it so that someone else can be impressed by my achievement? Is it to show others that I can accomplish something I thought was impossible? Well, yes...but no. It was at that moment that I realized that I run for me. No one else, just me. So all the events I've run since then, it heartens me to see someone I know at the finish line, but it isn't the reason I crossed it in the first place. Finishing a race nurturs ME.

On an unrelated note...Go Celtics! If my beloved Pistons had to lose, at least their defeators can go on to win it all. And, I can't stand Kobe Bryant.


-K