Almost four years ago, I could barely run two laps around a park close to my home without wheezing. Because the park had almost no shade, the heat from the sun always seemed intensified. Two laps was only 2/3 of a mile and I couldn’t even make it to the second lap without having to take a walk. It was at the beginning of the summer between freshman and sophomore year of high school when I had finally decided that I had enough.
In elementary school, I played tag with the boys, did the monkey bars, and played soccer. Back then, summer days were often spent swimming in the pool and summer nights were often spent playing ghost in the graveyard with some kids who lived across the street from me. But once middle school hit, all that constant activity stoped. I eventually quit playing soccer and increased my time spent inside. After school, my favorite activity was eating my snack. And let me tell you, that “snack” probably consisted of 5 different things at least. Needless to say, my face and body looked a lot fuller after middle school.
Looking back, I believe what finally pushed me to begin running was my thighs. Like many girls (and guys!) can relate to, when your thighs rub, it can be extremely annoying as well as sometimes painful. I would go through jeans quickly because my thighs would rub a holes in them. Clothes that used to fit me only a few months ago suddenly seemed tighter. And often, my inner thighs would start to get little sores or rashes from all the rubbing.
In the summer of 2013, I started running. The first few weeks were the hardest. At the time, running just one lap would make me want to just stop and quit. My babysitter at the time, Karen, was also trying to get in shape. So, every afternoon, we would run laps around the park. As the summer went on, my attitude towards running began to change. And by the end, I was able to run 9 laps around the park.
At the end of my freshman year, I was very unhappy. I was unhappy not only with my appearance in the mirror, but I also did not feel at home in my own body.
But thanks to Karen’s constant support and patience, I was able to discover my love for running. Along with the many health benefits running offers, running also gave me an escape. When I run, it’s like all the problems and stresses of life completely melt away. It gives me the ability to let go of stress, disappointment, and unhappiness. When I run, I feel like I am free.
Running has also taught me the value of persistence. Whenever you start any new activity, you can’t expect to be a master at it right away. When I first started running, I was absolutely terrible. And you have no idea how many times I wanted to just throw my gym shoes away and quit. But looking back, I am so happy I didn’t. As time went on, I realized I loved it. So, whenever you try something new, give yourself a break. You don’t need to be able to run 5 miles the first time you run. You don’t need to be able to lift 100 lbs. the first time you lift in the downstairs weight room in Skoglund. Even though it’s difficult, keep going, persist. As, it is often the most rewarding thing that has the most difficult journey.
Image Sources: Thumbnail- photo by Mike Baird (license),