Distance running gives me plenty of time for meditation and escape into areas of my mind I never knew existed. Often, my thoughts travel in a cyclical and almost uniform motion. They skip by grocery list, cruise on past unfinished errands, stop for a while to wade through the murk of problem with a co-worker, and all the while dancing on top of I wonder when that blister will turn into a callus. And then these thoughts double back on each other again, and again. Occasionally, however, on the long run I get to explore the back roads of my mind and discover new reasons why I run.

My biggest challenge with distance running is wrestling with why I do it. Often, my non-runner friends will ask me what I’m running from. I tell them that I’m not running to or from anything, I’m just running. This completely rocks their understanding of the fitness world. Who would run just to run? Shouldn’t there be a goal in there somewhere? In all honesty, the goal is the run, and only runners can understand the passion behind this.

So why do I do it? Lately, I’ve been clouded with pressures of every day life. My relationship, friendships, work, family, financial, and personal lives are all speeding through 2009 without a solid destination and just like the Road Runner. What running gives me is an excuse to check out. Phoebe Jones sums this concept up well, “running is a statement to society. It is saying ‘no’ to always being on call, to sacrificing our daily runs for others’ needs. When we run we are doing something for ourselves.” In a time of constant juggling and speeding from one activity to the next, doing something for myself is essential for my sanity. During my long run tomorrow, I’m going to bathe myself in the solidarity that comes only with the distance and allow that distance to let my mind wander through the backwoods. It will be a welcome vacation from my non-runner life.