If you had told me a year ago that I would enjoy running six miles, I would have never believed you. I have never been a strong runner, even as a kid it was something I really wasn’t great at (and you can guess the pacer test during gym class was my nightmare). However, running has recently become my favorite for so many reasons.Â
Over the past year I started getting more into fitness and taking care of my health. I started going to the gym and tracking how much protein I eat in a day, but this didn’t feel like enough. I set a new goal for myself: in one year, I want to be able to run 10 miles. At first, this seemed pretty unrealistic since I struggled to even run 1 mile. Over the summer, I started running every week, usually 2-3 times per week, and actually noticed an improvement. Somedays are definitely worse than others, but I finally got myself to the point where I can run a full six miles without feeling completely exhausted after. Â
While I started running for the physical benefits, it has become something I love because it also has helped with my mental health a lot. Whenever I am over stressed, I have noticed that running is the one thing that allows me to clear my head. Not only that, but it has also helped me feel better about myself because it’s proof that I can do something that is challenging. Running has made me feel great, and I am so grateful that it is something I gave a try and continued doing despite being something I am bad at. Â