I ran because my drill instructor told me in a not-so-pleasant way to do so. I ran in hopes of scoring a perfect score on my Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test (3 miles in under 18 minutes). I ran because the mountain ridge behind the house I grew up in always looked so vast to me as a child but, once out of the Marines it looked like something I could run around, which I did. I don’t think any one of those things was a real reason to adopt running as a lifestyle and over the following 5 years or so I didn’t run at all. Running never crossed my mind as far as I can remember until I discovered that my wife’s friend Jamie ran a marathon. I thought that was super cool and it inspired me to train for and run the Marine Corps Marathon in 1998.
My only connection to running the years following were local running stores. While I didn’t often run, I continued to buy my sneakers and gear from local running stores— a habit I picked up while training for the Marine Corps Marathon. I did a few 5K’s in 2003 but, it wasn’t until 2004 when I took up the sport of triathlon that I really started running more. In 2006, I found myself on the starting line at Ironman Florida. Around mile 9 on the run, I crumbled. I didn’t want to run. I didn’t want to walk. I just wanted to not be me at that particular moment. I struggled to the halfway point where my special needs bag was waiting with an envelope I promised my wife I wouldn’t open till then. In it were handmade cards and words of inspiration from my friends and their children. Each and every one moved me to try harder. But, the words my friend Chad wrote were new to me having not grown up in a religious home.
“… those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
I repeated them to myself several times to commit them to memory. I found my wife and kissed her and thanked her for the envelope prior to starting the second half of my run. I’ll admit I struggled off and on for a while. But, around mile 20, those words resurfaced in my mind and I tried harder to run. Soon, I felt like I was running on air. I knew I couldn’t be stopped by the physical pain any longer and I pushed through the finish with my fastest splits of the marathon.
I’ve looked back on that moment many times since. I told the story to my pastor prior to being baptized for the first time last year. It was running that lead me to that moment. When I was all alone in my father’s house the night he passed away, I was spiritually empty. Then I ran. Running helped me to begin to cope with his death. Over the years, running has offered less significant but, still important gifts to me: sunrises, sunsets, inspiration for writing, promises to be a better dad/husband/friend/employee, and resolution of long-standing grief over the loss of my parents. These gifts come to me on the trail or in races. Unexpected rewards for putting in the time to run.
In this issue of Endurance several of our readers share their personal stories and reason for running, as well. I hope this issue inspires you to reflect on your own reason for running and if you so choose, to share it with us. Everyone has a story that holds the power to inspire others (whether you realize it or not!). Feel free to send your story with me at joe@endurancemag.com.
Inspire. Perform. Endure.
