Why are you doing it? (Page 2)

Further to the bear's statement, I work in a large long term care facility with predominantly elderly clients but with younger clients as well (as young as 18), all with some varying degree of physical limitations. I had a client in her 90's who somehow  heard that I was a "runner" and she asked me about it. I explained that, although being sedentary for the majority of my life, had taken up running and cycling late in my 30's and trained for and competed in duathlons. I will never forget her comments to me, indicating that she used to enjoy running when she was a young woman, and now in her state of being confined to a wheelchair, told me, "keep on running as long as you can. Because you can. And when you do, think of us", indicating those around her who were also bound to wheelchairs or confined to bed.

So yes, because I can. As long as I can.

Because it makes me feel truly ALIVE.  The sweat, the hard work, the soreness, the adenaline, the glory of reaching my goal and crossing the finish line - it all reminds me of what I am capable of and what I have to be grateful for in this life.

Much like Sty... I also worked with older adults (65 to 106) and I saw first hard the effect of NOT doing it.  Uhhh, what I mean to say is that I saw the effect of not training... not the effect of not "doing IT."   

Because the NY Giants have yet to realize that they are in desperate need of a 35 year old slow, under weight defensive tackle with bad shoulders and ankles.  When they come to their senses I can stop paddling around the pool.   Until the I'll take the lifestyle, health benefits hot tri chicks, etc.

"Some day my body won't be able to do this.  Today is not that day!"

I'm running a 1/2 marathon tomorrow morning...I never stopped to ask why.  I run becuase I enjoy running....it's a lifestyle.  But why do I participate in formal races?  I guess to get together with 500+ like-minded people who also enjoy running.  It's a social thing....

Why do people smack a little white ball with an iron rod and try to make it go into a hole?

Why do people sit on the couch wathing other people play football while consuming junkfood and beers?

Evidently they enjoy it. 

You gotta be doing something with your free time....so might as well find something to do that you enjoy and that keeps you healthy too.

~Mike

The Flippant answer:
    Because 13 miles of running is what stands between T2 and the buffet line.

The no so flippant answer:
   After 40 years of being a couch potato every mile I run feels like a great accomplishment.

or

   The perfect run is like the perfect golf swing.  You may spend months hacking at the ball and replacing divots wondering why you do this.  But on the rarest of occations the ball flys straight down the fairway and rolls up onto the green 300 yards away, nad now you spend the next year hacking away seaching for the feeling again.  A great run has that perfect feeling, and is just as rare, but could very well come the next time out.

Golf is way harder... I have never repeatedly tripped and fallen or lost a dozen pairs of running shoes during a race. 

Yeah, why are you doing it?  You know it is much faster to get in your car and drive 13 miles right?  Plus don't you just generally end up where you started?  (Ok maybe not always)

 Anyway, I would say because I can.  For me, I can't run 13 miles but I can run/walk 2.  A month ago, I couldn't do that.  In another month, I hope I can run a 5k. After that, I want to train for something longer.

I am doing it because I want to see what my body can do.  I also want to lose weight.  I want to get healthier.  

Why not test our limits and improve our abilities?  Sitting on a couch watching tv isn't what I want to do.

Loose weight (still trying).   Because I can.   And my wife lets me.

for the great looking babes .......

At first, it was just a new years resolution. 

Then, because my husband said it would be too hard for me.

Now, I'm addicted.

Its my way of relieving stress that comes from working behind a desk 10 hours a day, cleaning house, taking care of kids and husband, etc)

I also love that we are doing the exact some course as the elite in our sport! How cool is that!