I am reading a book, Once A Runner by John L. Parker, Jr., that was lent to me for inspiration. I am a little more than halfway through this fictional story came upon a part where the main character touches on why runners run. They struggle to answer the question and then they do not answer it at all. When people ask me why I run I always struggle with an answer myself. I guess the truth is, I don't really know. I know that running gives me a pleasure that I would describe as primal. It is how we were built to travel. I didn't realize this until I suffered my first running injury.
I started running to train for my first triathlon years ago. I had been bicycle commuting since moving to our home in Northwest Philadelphia. I enjoyed bicycling and I enjoyed being in the water, so I thought I would "just have to tolerate running." I had not run since high school gym class and had no ambition to be a runner. I started my training for my first triathlon in December. I would make my bicycle commute part of the training by adding a loop that would be part of the course I would race on in June. I alternated days of swimming and running in the evenings after cycling home. For days I swam, I would cycle home and then hop on the motorcycle to get to an indoor pool. For days I ran I would cycle home and change quickly and head out on a little loop through the neighborhood that included a local high school track. The runs started as walk-runs, a couch-to-5K program. I found it intriguing that I could travel around the neighborhood this way. By the time I was running complete 5K's I was surprised it was coming along so easily.
When I competed in the first triathlon it went like this, I was absolutely terrible in the swim. I suffered two lower leg cramps on the swim course and finished dead last in my wave. I performed much better on the bicycle. Even though I rode my daily commuter, complete with a bell I would ring as I was passing other riders (they seemed not to appreciate this) and made up good ground. When the run section came I made up even more ground and found I was now passing people in my wave. I competed in three more sprint triathlons the following year, but it had been decided for me. I was a runner.
During this time I had suffered an Achilles injury, was referred to a podiatrist and given the diagnosis as an over-pronator. I picked up a pair of corrective footwear and was back at it. Soon thereafter I found myself having knee pain during and after my runs. My primary physician told me "Maybe you shouldn't run, maybe you are not a runner." I had also shown signs of early onset arthritis. I found this news heartbreaking. I felt so good that first year, what could have gone wrong? A friend of mine was in the middle of reading Born To Run. He suggested I take off my shoes and try running barefoot. We went back and forth for the next few weeks and I was not willing to do it. Why would I substitute hurting my feet in lieu of hurting my joints? Finally though, I felt I was running out of options. I went back to the neighborhood high-school track took off my shoes and started my trot. I think I may have yipped and repeated "shit" with each step. Once I finished getting around a quarter of the track I stopped to walk. I walked the next quarter of the track and started my trot again. I noticed something else this time, my knee had no pain. I had also noticed that my form had changed. This was much slower, but I was willing to sacrifice speed for comfort.
I was now a disciple of the barefoot running movement, spreading the word and having nearly everyone I told the story to tell me I was completely crazy. I didn't care because I was enjoying running again.
Cut to years later and I am still running. It has not been without other injuries, aches, pains and downright being humbled, but I still get that primal feeling of "this is how I am meant to travel.
The character in Once A Runner gets frustrated with people asking the question "What's your secret?" when he performs better. The thing is, there are no secrets, you just move forward. We all have the same aches, pains and sometimes even injuries, usually from mistakes or trying to take shortcuts in training. You just learn to do your best the next time around. Just like life, simplified.
