I was given this poem by my HS coach. I have referred to it often as it has helped me through some tough times. I now have two kids that run HS XC country and you can only “coach” running to an extent. Running is 90% mental. The original hangs in my kitchen for everyday viewing – for them and me.
I won’t say it defined me when I was a 16 yr old HS runner and just wanted to hang out with my friends – but it helped me when I was a college runner, in the years of marriage and children and aging and death of friends that were WAY too young – it defines me every day now.
For that reason – this man gave me a gift. And I am forever grateful.
WHY DO I RUN?
WHY DO I RUN?
THOSE WHO DON’T CAN’T UNDERSTAND.
THE PAIN IS REAL EVERY DAY.
IS IT EASIER NOW? NOT REALLY
THE SAME PAIN I FELT THE FIRST DAY I BEGAN.
ONLY EASIER TO COVER GREATER DISTANCES
IN SHORTER AMOUNTS OF TIME.
THE PAIN IS THE SAME AND I UNDERSTAND IT ALWAYS WILL BE.
I DREAD IT, AND IN A SENSE I CRAVE IT.
WHY DO I RUN?
TO STAY IN SHAPE, TO KEEP MY HEALTH,
TO FEEL BETTER?
ALL PARTIAL REASONS, I SUPPOSE.
THE REAL REASON IS CONFIRMATION
CONFIRMATION THAT I AM IN CONTROL.
EVERY DAY I MUST MAKE A CHOICE
A CHOICE TO EXPERIENCE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A HIGHER GOAL.
OR TO GIVE IN TO THE BODY’S URGING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE MORE COMFORTING AND PLEASURABLE.
WHO IS IN CONTROL? MY BODY OR ME?
EVERY TIME I RUN, I VERIFY TO ME THAT I AM IN CONTROL
AND THAT I CAN BE THE MASTER OF MY OWN DESTINY.
THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHY I RUN.
I FEEL GUILTY WHEN I DON’T RUN WHEN THE BODY WINS.
RUNNING IS A TEST OF MY STRENGTH
NOT JUST MY PHYSICAL
BUT MY MENTAL.
RUNNING IS A CHALLENGE OF MY WILL?
OF MIND OVER MATTER
OF ME AGAINST MYSELF.
RUNNING IS MENTAL CONDITIONING AS WELL AS PHYSICAL.
IT’S THERAPY OF THE WILL FOR ME.
EACH RUN IS SUCCESS
THE RICHEST AND MOST DEEPLY SATISFYING.
STRANGELY BUT UNMISTAKINGLY TIED TO SELF-DISCIPLINE, SELF-DENIAL, AND SELF-CONTROL.
IN A WORLD WHERE I OFTEN FEEL HELPLESS, VICTIMIZED AND CONTROLLED,
RUNNING HELPS REVIVE FEELINGS OF HOPE, STRENGTH AND CONVICTION
THAT I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND I CAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ME.
AN ADDICTION YOU SAY AND YOU’RE RIGHT
THERE’S A DANGER.
SO LONG AS I CHOOSE,
THE VALUE REMAINS TRUE AND REAL;
SO LONG AS I CONTROL RUNNING RUNNING DOES NOT CONTROL ME.
POSITIVE ADDICTION OR NOT, THE VALUE IS IN CHOOSING.
WHEN THE CHOICE IS GONE, I BECOME CONTROLLED AND VICTIMIZED AGAIN.
ON MORE THING IN MY LIFE THAT TELLS ME I AM NOT IN CONTROL,
THAT I AM SIMPLY A PAWN OF FATE AND CIRCUMSTANCE.
I MUST RUN AS A CHOICE,
NOT OUT OF NECESSITY OR IT’S REAL VALUE IS GONE FOR ME.
WHY DO I RUN?
I RUN FOR SUCCESS,
SUCCESS IN THE ULTIMATE CONTEST
THE CONTEST OF ME AGAINST MYSELF.
