4 Powerful Incentives That Will Motivate You To Run

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I did not always run. In fact, I only started running about three years ago. What took me so long, you ask? Let’s just say the freshman 15 turned into the freshman 25. The summer following my first year of college was not pretty. I realized I needed a serious lifestyle change, and thus begun the summer of running. At first, a mile or two was an accomplishment. As I continued to run daily, two miles grew into four and four grew into six and I eventually hit a half marathon. It was an astonishingly good feeling. My sweat-soaked t-shirts and sore legs were signs of accomplishments. Running not only provided me with a physical outlet, but a mental one as well. Here are a few things I run from:

1. Physical Weakness.

I run from physical weakness. As a person, I strive to be physically fit. Often, I fail at this because I love sweets. However, running somewhat counteracts my sweet tooth. Running makes my body healthy. It makes me sweat, it makes my legs strong, it makes me move. Runnings helps me want to be fit, it gives me stamina to want to stay strong and to stay away from the things that hinder my strength.

2. Giving In.

I run from giving in. While on a run, here are a few thoughts that go through my mind:

  • “I can’t go on.”
  • “I need water.”
  • “I have to go to the bathroom.”
  • “I hate running.”

Without a doubt, running is painful. It not only tests your physical strength but your mental strength as well. It is far too easy to simply slow down and walk when you start to get tired. Continuously running, pushing yourself an extra five or ten minutes surely starts to increase your mental willpower. Running gives you the ability to go your hardest — until your legs feel like spaghetti and you want to collapse on a stranger’s grassy lawn. If you train yourself to run your best and hardest every time, you’ll train your brain in other ways, too. Running trains your brain to push and strive to do your best, and these ideas will inevitably pour over into other aspects of your life, as well.

3. Unhealthiness.

I run from sitting and staring at screens. Let me clarify. If, like me, many of your daily tasks involve staring at a screen while sitting down, it can get frustrating. Phone, computer, TV, iPad — all I do is look at screens. Running lets me break away from the constant staring and sitting for a short while. In this small part of my day, I get my heart rate up, sweat a bit and experience a little nature. I breathe in fresh air and end up feeling a little bit better when I have to return to the mundane office/computer routine.

4. Stress.

I run from stress. Or, really, I run to reduce it. If I have long day at school or work ahead, I try my best to hit the pavement early in the A.M. Running is like natural fuel, it releases endorphins and awakens your senses. While on a run, my mind is allowed to unleash itself. I can think about whatever I’d like for a short period of time (and I can also to listen to some kickass music). I can think about the environment around me, the day ahead, the shoes on my feet — anything. My run is a time for mental exploration. I can simply let go of my stresses for a short moment and that, my friends, is a beautiful feeling.