People often ask, "Why do you run?" "That looks like it stinks; why would you enjoy that?" And most of the time I give a basic "I don't know, I guess I'm just crazy like that" answer, but for me it's far deeper than that.I run not because it's fun or because it's easy; it's far from either of those. Long runs in the early morning when your legs are ready to give up and stop moving when the sweat from the 100+ degree heat radiating off of the track is stinging your eyes. After a run, all you want to do is go to sleep and rest forever. And yes, it stinks most of the time.

I run for the sunrises at the top of mountains that the rest of the world is dreaming about, but I get to see them for real. I run for the feeling of community when running with others who aren't afraid to work. I run for those who can't. Those who wish they were able to put one foot in front of the other but are unable I run for the kid who is battling an illness or disease that has taken the ability to run from them. I run for the student who is so stressed and overwhelmed with life that they are unable to get out of bed and pursue the thing they worked so hard to achieve. I run for those who can't.

That's why I run.

Because the pain of doing something that no one forced you to do teaches you more about yourself than you'll otherwise never know. Because setting a goal and going beyond what you think you can do is far more rewarding than taking the easy way in life and being comfortable.

I run for the hills. The struggle. I run for the peace it brings me.

That's why I run.