August 28, 2019
Runing into Fall with StellaFit
Well, that was fast! Even though it certainly still feels like Summer these days, most of us are back from vacation and our kids have started school (unless you live in New York – oh how I am envious of my New York friends).
Speaking of vacations, I have included a picture from one of my runs in Paris along the Seine River. Over the years, I have had so many people ask me “why” I run? They tell me how they wish they liked to run, some tell me all the ailments I am going to have because of my years of running, share with me all of their ailments they attribute to running, yada, yada, yada.
Running has been a true gift for me. It has helped me grow up, solve problems, ace exams, explore cities, become one with nature, it has given me some of my most treasured friendships, helped me be a better mother, wife, and daughter, it has helped me produce some of my best ideas, made me more productive, it has helped keep my husband healthy (I get him out on vacation, too), not to mention given me an avenue for spreading the joy of running to middle schoolers in Menlo Park! That is just the handful of things I can list off the top of my head!
I have been listening to “Shoe Dog”, Phil Knight’s (the creator of Nike) memoir. If you have not read it, it is really, really good (see below for my favorite things). In the book, he talks about his passion for running and says, “Why do I run? Because the world is a more beautiful place.” In another line, he says “I believed in running. I believed that if people got out and ran a few miles every day, the world would be a better place.” I literally listened to this over and over. AHA, that is it!!! If I have to sum up “WHY” I run, it is because it really makes the world a brighter, more beautiful place. Everything is better after I run, no matter how hard my problems may seem, they are manageable when I get back from a run. Endorphins are truly a beautiful thing. Consistent running is one of the best ways to manage anxiety, feel happier, reduce your risk of getting cancer, improve your bone density, help lose or maintain weight, and help keep your mind sharper.
Yes, I know not everyone can run or wants to run. But if you are just avoiding it because you think it is too hard, or you think you cannot do it, I really encourage you to just try it. In the words of the legendary Bill Bowerman, “If you have a body, you are an athlete”. I am pretty sure Bill thought everyone should run. I want to encourage those of you who are putting it off to start NOW – start before your kids become teenagers or go off to college, start NOW before you hit menopause, start NOW before you enter so many of the tough life transitions that lie ahead for most of us. Transitions (and having teenagers) can be rough, whether it is going back to school after summer vacation or having your parents move into a retirement home and sell your beloved family home. For me, I am grateful that I can go out for a run and see the world with a new lens, one filled with understanding and gratitude. That is the beauty of running.