Why do you run?

I started to write this about 20 times.  I started it over a week ago... and then, something happened.  Something that made me wonder....

It wasn't a bad thing that happened, it was... just unfortunate.  Someone said something to me, defending their own point of view, that made me realize that they didn't get me.

At all.

And the thing that was said, well; it was kinda harsh.  Unintentionally harsh, but still ~harsh~.

But you know sometimes how unfortunate things make you think?  I just wondered, if this person understood why I do this, maybe they would get me and cease making unintentionally hurtful comments.  And then I realized - wait...  I'll come back to that...

Jenny, a Silver MTT runner recently blogged about why she runs.  She was very specific in her reasons. I admire her for taking the time to put them down in writing.

DeeR, a SNOW runner blogged here that she only runs because it’s part of the triathlon.  Apparently those pesky tri folks at USAT aren’t ready to find a more desirable 3^rd leg for DeeR’s needs… so she runs because she must.  I get that.  I guess.  

It’s not the reason I run though.  Not even close.  In fact, in this regard, DeeR & I couldn’t be more different.

Why do I run?  It’s personal.  And simple. 

I run because I love it.... and why does a person fall in love?  Who knows... really....

I run because I always thought I knew my limits, and knew that it was stupid to push past those limits into a certainty of failure….  until I met running and found a whole new level of stupidity to test.  Failure can happen, but for me, running has shown me that not trying is a greater disappointment.

I run because I love to skirt the line between blowing up and exploding… and yeah, those are two very different things.

I run because it's a series of contradictions.  I love how it makes me feel invincible and mortal at the same time.  

I run because I love how I feel powerful when I accomplish a hard run, and how the very act of doing it makes me stronger.

I run because I’m a bit like a drug addict and running is my heroin.  My life is measured in the quantity and quality of my Heroin Use in General.

But mostly, I run because it makes me happy to run.

Writing that down makes me think that everyone has a reason for doing this.  And (here's what I was thinking I wanted to come back to) no one's reasons are going to be the same.

Even if the reason looks the same, it’s probably different.

15 runners on GBA equates to 15 different reasons to run.  50 runners on SNOW equals 50 reasons…. And 1200 or so runners on MTT … you get it. 

By the way, that’s 1200 TEAMMATES to support YOU and respect YOUR reasons…  and 1200 TEAMMATES you should support and RESPECT for their reasons.

Even if their reasons are not the same as yours.  Even, if you look at your dear friend DeeR and think, "but this is AWESOME!  Why don't you love this like I DO?"  Even if you are tempted to judge someone because they train harder than you, or not as hard as you, or run 6 days a week, or run 3 days a week, or wear tall socks, or don't wear tall socks...
(which is a mystery to me why more people don't wear them ~ they're terribly comfortable...).

Chances are, unless you’re really outgoing, you’re not going to meet all 1200 MTT runners. 

Here’s my suggestion though.  Support and respect the ones you do meet.  After all, nearly everyone on MTT shares the common goal of “laying down 26.2 miles their own way”.

I try to meet as many people as possible.  I like to introduce myself.  I like to know Sonja, and Cheryl, and Miriam's names because who knows who you'll meet on race morning, or more importantly, on race afternoon at mile 23 when seeing a familiar face is not just "nice"... it's more like seeing an oasis in the desert.  in july.  during a heat wave.  

And I'm not going to lie, ever since reading Jenny & DeeR's posts, I have been tempted to ask every MTT runner I meet... "Why do you run?"

So do me a favor and answer this question today:  Why do you run? 

If you want to comment, I’d love to know your reason.  Take as many words or as few as you like...

Or write it down and keep it for yourself and know that you KNOW why you run.

Or if you don’t want to comment publicly, but you’re willing to share - you can send me e-mail (nmomof3 (at) gmail (dot) com.  

And if you feel like it ~ ID yourself as novice, intermediate, advanced, coach, or non MTT runner. 

All are welcome to drink the Koolaid here.... no matter their reasons for running.

~savor the run~

Keep the Change

Last year I ran Sports Backers MTT on one of the coveted Sunday teams.

See, the Sunday teams have an IDENTITY.

They are either PINK NATION, or, my team, SNOT ROCKETS.

They're obnoxious names, true.  Perhaps that's because they are paired with even more obnoxious coaches?  Regardless, part of the appeal of the Sunday Funday Team is the ridiculousness, right?

So.

I made a plan to return to MTT SUNDAY.  I was going to return to the SNOT ROCKETS.
Green, it's the New Black.
Run Like SNOT.
TRY NOT TO SUCK.

There are many great slogans associated with the Green Team.  

And then.  THE HEAD COACH for SNOT moved up in the organization.

It effing sucks, he's like, the best.coach.ever. and I was really looking forward to running with him again..  and no, I'm not the only idiot who thinks that he's super fun to run with even though he's a safety NAZI, or who thinks he's hot (we've discussed the VA heat?  ~ it's hot here in VA) ... but no. management.  it sucks, it...

WHOOPS, did I say that out loud?  I think what I meant to say was  ~ awesome ~  Right?  How wonderful and exciting for him!  ~Yea~   ahem.

Still, I knew that meant Coach El would move up, and she's marvelous, knows a wicked lot about running, is straight shooter, has a cute laugh, and is the kind of person who tells you to stick your finger down your throat and vom at mile 20.... she's really the perfect coach in a lot of ways.

I figured that Coach El would become the coach of SNOT.  Life was good.

Except I recently found out.

I am no. longer. a. SNOT ROCKET.

El has a new color.

It made me sad.

Really sad.

For a few seconds there, I actually felt less than GBA.

How was I going to run a marathon, like snot, if I wasn't actually a snot rocket anymore?  Even worse news followed.  I found out that the new color is my least. favorite.color.  Seriously.

Seriously?

Yellow?

Like ~ cowardly, daffodils, dandelions, rubber duckies, school busses, #2 pencils, lemons, bile, jaundice, caution tape, terror alerts.... or mellow... or...  Like ~ not GREEN.

And then it came to me.

in an e-mail.  what'ev. 

"Now the question is will the Yellow Team create an identity?  Will the creative talents of its' members shine through to develop a Team Name that will live in infamy?"

Nice.  No pressure or anything... besides what could I possibly have that could measure up to Green SNOT?

and then about 20 hours later I had one of those thoughts that makes you stop in your tracks, and it was, we're not lemons.  Lemons are rejects.  We're untouchable we're...


Yellow SNOW.

How many times in my life have I said, "Don't touch the yellow snow!"

You can't touch Yellow Snow.


Does that make yellow snow untouchable?


Just curious.

Now.  To pitch this to the team...

With my luck, they'll be all excited about being the LEMON ZEST or RUBBER DUCKS... you know?

"Coach El, when life hands you lemons, hand them a GU and tell them to run a marathon!" ~ there's a slogan...

Or the DUCKS, which, I hear are mighty, but I'm pretty sure they're talking about Hockey Ducks, and not Rubber Duckies which are yellow.

And besides, one slip of the hand while typing THAT team name and there's going to be real trouble.

Yeah.  I think I need to go pitch my Yellow SNOW idea ASAP.