Running
“I’m so glad that you introduced running to me and you never gave up on me,” I said to my Dad one day last summer after a great 7 mile run. I have a huge passion for running, but I have not always had this love for running. Believe it or not, I absolutely hated running at first and I even told myself I was never going to become a runner. However, my Dad was a runner and it meant so much to him, that he wanted me to be a runner as well. I always saw my Dad run all the time and it was something I admired, but I never pictured myself doing it.
One spring day in 2006, Dad told me to put on shorts and a t-shirt. He said we were going for a run. I did not believe this at first, but I knew he was serious, so I protested and tried to find excuses not to run because I thought it was going to be very hard and painful. Dad did not take no for an answer, so I gave in. I was right, the run was hard and painful for me. Both of my sides were hurting like crazy, my legs were cramping, and I could just feel the pain in my lungs. After that, I decided that I hated running and I was never going to do it again. Dad, however, kept pushing me to run with him everyday, no matter how much I whined, complained, and protested before, during, and after the run. I was so determined to never become a runner, but Dad was also very determined because he knew I could be a runner. Dad also encouraged me by explaining that running is hard and it hurts at first, but the more I do it, the easier and less painful it will be.
As I progressed in my running, my pain started to decrease and each day was better than the previous. My complaining, protesting, and whining decreased every day as well because I was starting to enjoy running. Eventually I got to the point where I was running pain free and I was no longer complaining. I was not running with Dad, but by myself, on my own free will. I missed Dad’s company, but I realized that Dad could not run with me forever and he knew that I can now run without his coaching.
Once I started to really increase my miles, I truly understood why Dad loves running so much. Just like my Dad, I fell in love with running. I fell in love with it because my thoughts can just wander freely without interruptions, I can think about anything, makes me in a great mood, helps me relax, and all of this combined just makes me feel free. The wind blowing through my hair also contributes to this feeling of being free because even though I’m not really flying, it feels like I am. Being so I feel free, I feel like I can do anything when I’m running. This feeling of being free and that I can do anything makes me feel so good that I never want to end my run. The more miles I do (which means longer runs), the more I love running because it allows me a greater amount of time with my thoughts and that feeling of being free.
I’m so grateful that my Dad did not give up on me because without my Dad’s perseverance, I would not be the runner I am today. Dad has helped me come a long way in my running and I am very amazed how he never gave up on me and delt with my complaining as well as my protesting every day until I was running pain free. Running means so much to me now that I honestly can not see how I hated it at first. I will never stop running and it will definitely be a life long activity for me because I love it and it really reminds me of my Dad, being so he loves it and he introduced it to me. Running is my way of honoring my Dad, because again, I can not say it enough, I definitely would not be the runner I am today without my Dad.
