Game Changers
There are a few moments in my life that I consider to be game changers. They changed the way I thought about the world and they helped me become who I am today. The first moment I remember was the decision to join choir in high school. I am still so thankful that Mark Potvin cornered me and told me I HAD to join choir.
Unfortunately, this isn't a post about how much I love singing. It's a post about how much I love running.
When I started running in my freshmen year, I thought it was a phase. A phase driven by the desire to lose weight. SPOILER ALERT: You will not lose weight if you eat and drink everything that you want and then justify it with a run. I'm sure all of my friends and family thought it was a phase too. After all, I despised running in high school and made up any excuse that I could to get out of the mile. So my new adventures left my friends and family surprised and confused, especially when I signed up for a half marathon.
The decision to take my running to the next level came at a crucial time in my life. It was winter of my sophomore year and my depression was at an all time low. I started counseling on campus and it was helpful, but I needed something more. I needed something to get me out of the deep hole I somehow found myself in.
Running was the answer. I found that when I increased my mileage, I increased my happiness. I was still running with the hope of losing weight, but I realized that wasn't what it was all about. I was encouraged by the additional distance. I vividly remember hopping off the treadmill after my first 6 mile run and texting my mom because I was ecstatic. 2 months later I finished my first half marathon and I was even more ecstatic.
But it didn't stop there. Although I've given up on the idea of running as a tool for weight loss, I still continue to do it. I sacrifice my Saturday nights to make sure that I wake my ass up on Sunday mornings to go out for a run. I'm constantly pushing myself to do better and in doing so, I find that I am still happier. Running has changed the way that I look at my life.
Running forces me to shut the fuck up for a few miles and it helps me digest all of the thoughts I have in my head. I have gotten through some of my toughest moments thanks to running. Once everything quiets down and it's just me and the motion of running, I'm able to really reflect on life.
And so even though there is no possible way for me to put into words how much I need running, I can say that it was THE best game changer yet.
Unfortunately, this isn't a post about how much I love singing. It's a post about how much I love running.
When I started running in my freshmen year, I thought it was a phase. A phase driven by the desire to lose weight. SPOILER ALERT: You will not lose weight if you eat and drink everything that you want and then justify it with a run. I'm sure all of my friends and family thought it was a phase too. After all, I despised running in high school and made up any excuse that I could to get out of the mile. So my new adventures left my friends and family surprised and confused, especially when I signed up for a half marathon.
The decision to take my running to the next level came at a crucial time in my life. It was winter of my sophomore year and my depression was at an all time low. I started counseling on campus and it was helpful, but I needed something more. I needed something to get me out of the deep hole I somehow found myself in.
Running was the answer. I found that when I increased my mileage, I increased my happiness. I was still running with the hope of losing weight, but I realized that wasn't what it was all about. I was encouraged by the additional distance. I vividly remember hopping off the treadmill after my first 6 mile run and texting my mom because I was ecstatic. 2 months later I finished my first half marathon and I was even more ecstatic.
But it didn't stop there. Although I've given up on the idea of running as a tool for weight loss, I still continue to do it. I sacrifice my Saturday nights to make sure that I wake my ass up on Sunday mornings to go out for a run. I'm constantly pushing myself to do better and in doing so, I find that I am still happier. Running has changed the way that I look at my life.
Running forces me to shut the fuck up for a few miles and it helps me digest all of the thoughts I have in my head. I have gotten through some of my toughest moments thanks to running. Once everything quiets down and it's just me and the motion of running, I'm able to really reflect on life.
And so even though there is no possible way for me to put into words how much I need running, I can say that it was THE best game changer yet.
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