Last week after a run, I was checking a notification on Facebook and ran across the above picture. All I could think was that it summed up perfectly my need to run. I say need because, while I desire to run, it really is a need. When I shared the picture, I said that this is really the only time in my day when I am truly happy.

I know some people took that to mean oh, running is fun sometimes so if you are having fun, then guess you are happy. What I really meant was that for me, running really is the only time during my day that I am happy. I’m not thinking about how I might be disappointing others by being a terrible friend. I’m not thinking about how my life is not where I want it to be or that I am ot in a great job or in a great relatioship. I really do mean that when I am running, I am happy because I am able to do it and all the other things that go on in my life really don’t matter.

I know a lot of people seem to think everything is just hunky dorry in my life. That from what little I might post on facebook, I seem to have my ish together and all is wonderful. But truthfully, it isn’t. But I forget all of that when I am running. When I’m running, I get to pretend that doing what some of the elite runners might be doing. I can forget what things I have to do to make sure I survive and just be free. That is what running does and because of that feeling, I now do everything I can to make sure I can keep doing it. In the past, I’ve had to deal with injuries, but now I have finally found a way to make sure those stay away. Because as I’ve gotten older, being happy and finding moments of happiness are really all that truly matter to me and since running can bring it about, I have to make sure I can do all I can to make sure I can enjoy it anytime I want.