Top 10 Reasons I Love Running

This post is written in response to a giveaway from #RunChat for two reasons. Firstly this is a nice topic for my blog because some of the items on this list serve as my biggest motivations for running. So perhaps readers can find this as a helpful reminder of what running can bring. Another reason is that the prizes from this giveaway include items from GU Energy and Road ID - two companies that offer products I personally use on a regular basis. Don’t forget to check out the original post by Scott on #RunChat because there are a few other inspirational lists from other bloggers. So here goes mine:

1. Honesty – running essentially boils down to “you get out what you put in“. There’s no shortcut in it.
2. Simplicity – almost everyone can run. It’s one of the easiest forms of exercise that doesn’t require extensive knowledge and expertise.
3. Challenge – running provides practical, attainable goals for everyone. Small or big, there are literally endless ways to challenge myself in running.
4. Clarity – nothing relaxes me yet allows me to focus at the same time like running does. The solidarity aspect in running doubles as meditation session for me from time to time.
5. Community – runners are a compassionate breed (at least the ones I’ve gotten to know over the years). I appreciate the camaraderie and companionship found in this group of people.
6. Numbers – as a self-proclaimed nerd, I love number crunching. Analyzing statistics and data to see my own improvements and future projection is interesting to me.
7. History – As a species we’ve been running for as long as we’ve been around. There are many great runners with inspirational stories that seem to be forgotten too easily.
8. Gears – who doesn’t like a new shirt or a new pair of shoes, especially for running? From clothing to electronics, their functionality, design, and technology intrigue me.
9. Exploration – there is no better way to get to know an area than on foot. Running knows how to fulfill the little adventurer in me, yearning to see what’s over yonder.
10. Runner’s super powers!

What are the 10 things you love about running? Remember to come up with your own list and submit it – maybe you’ll be a winner for this giveaway. Or don’t do it, because I really want to win.

Author Bio: Kevin Lu is an engineer, currently working in the field of orthopedic devices. He received his B.S. and M.S. in biomedical engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology. Science, technology, and running are Kevin’s passions. In his spare time, Kevin trains for and participates in races of various distances. In addition to Beyond Distance, Kevin also writes for iRunnerBlog as a contributing tech columnist. Find out more about Kevin here and follow him on Twitter.