A Sick Day & A Question: What Motivates You to Run?

Spent our anniversary yesterday taking care of Mikey. He caught a very bad flu bug and you know what that entails, lots of trips to the bathroom. This morning he's a little better, but still weak. I hate seeing him feel so bad. Then the baby woke up screaming. He's got a temp of 102.8! Poor little guy. My daughter is healthy for now (thank God), and my older son has a cold, but he's okay. I think I'm ok right now, just tired from broken sleep. Needless to say, probably no run for me today. I was supposed to do speedwork and hate to put it off, but I'll survive another day without running. I think. ;)

We runners often ask one another what motivates us to keep running? What do we think about to get us out there and run already? Every now and then I have to ask myself that question. Today is one of those days.

Primarily I run because it makes me feel good all the way around. Here are a few other motivators.

1. I love a challenge and we all know running challenges us to constantly improve upon ourselves in many ways.

2. Running is a God given gift, and without the good grace of God I would not be able to run.

3. I think about all the people in the world who can't run because of serious illness or physical disability. People who want to run more than anything but physically cannot. I run with them in mind. Although I may not know them personally, their spirits lift me as I run.

4. It's something that makes my kids proud of me. It's something we can do together. It sets a good example for them, and they are so happy when I run with them (as am I).

5. Running hard keeps me in better shape (hopefully) than the bad guys. I always want to be in better shape than the bad guys!

6. Other runners motivate and inspire me to run! I love hearing about other runners' successes! It pumps me up.

Have a healthy day everyone.