Motivations

Have run on and off the last few years but was never too serious about it until last November when I had an unplanned major operation. Only then did I appreciate how much being fit meant in terms of my recovery.  I almost went nuts during my recovery period and couldn't run intensively again until April this year. Since then have completed my first marathon.  I run now becuse I actually really truly do love it although others think I'm mad going out when the weather is rotten. And I love club nights because only other runners "understand" one another.....!!!!!  

I started running out of bordem during the summer hols when I finished college. Then my brother twisted my arm and took me to a race with him: I've never been the same since!

But seriously, although we can all get caught up in chasing pb's etc., the most important thing is getting out there, meeting great people, feeling good about yourself, destressing and being able to eat like a 20 stone bloke but only weight 9 stone!

Polly-Polly wrote (see)

I run to beat cancer........if I ever need to.

I lost both my parents to cancer at young ages, so I run to be fit enough to help fight off cancer if I should ever get it.  Of course, I hope to hell I don't.........but you never know    The upside is that I love running and it means I can eat cakes 

As I said earlier, I now run for many various, but a big one is because I can.  When I found out last year that I had cancer, I was sooo angry.  I'm under 40, I run 4 times a week, I'm a healthy weight, I eat well, no family history - for goodness sake I ran the London Marathon for Cancer Research last year.  

As Ghostrider says - stuff happens.   For me, running meant that I'm more aware of how my body works so when I knew it wasn't right, I went to the docs early and therefore had a very early diagnosis.  And recovery for a fit(ter) person is much much quicker and easier.

We can never completely stop it from happening, but I do think we have a personal responsibility to manage the things we have control over - ie looking after ourselves, keeping healthy, not smoking, eating well etc.  The rest is down to luck.   I used to get so angry when I saw people who blantantly don't care about their health and I'm the one who got sick - I'm (almost) over that now as it doesn't help me to think like that, but for me running allows me to take control over the things I can control.  And fortuately I love it too!

My younger sister passed away from cancer last year, and i thought what can i do to help others try to beat this awful disease. Truth was, not a lot.  aged 50+ and 19 1/2 stone, lazy and non motivational. Woke up one morning, said sod this, and went to ask advice from a work colleague ( established runner ) about running for charity.

In 10 months i have lost nearly 3 stone and never felt fitter. Have several 5 and 10k's under my belt. Doing my first half marathon in March for which i will be raising money for Cancer Research. I know i will be tearful and the end, but some of that will be in gratitude and thanks to my sister for helping me find a goal in life.

After the half, i fully intend to keep on with this running malarky. Love the meets, the sceneary, the competitions, the people, the solitude and what it does for me.

I am a hospice nurse so cancer is what i see every day. I have ran for my hospice, but it never was the incentive for me to start running. I ran 10 miles yesterday and i did it just for the pure love of it. I had my music on, i was in the zone, and i felt kind of at one with the world. I could never quit running i know that, unless my body quits me due to injury or some lovely carcinoma. Hence why i still can, i train hard, and when i run i know i am doing it at my best. That is why i do competitive running, since love half marathons, seeing other runners, etc. I drive my girlfriend nuts talking about running all the time, but when your out with others the same, you feel part of something.

I also love that since i am getting a bit better runner, i can now help people who have just started running, and that is a great feeling, to pass on what you have learned, so they dont make the same mistakes i did.

Apologies - I didn't mean to turn this into a maudlin thread.  Running is good for the soul, whatever your motivation.  Because of my treatment I have been a spectator at races this year rather than a participant and whilst it's amazing to see the elite and fast club athletes, it is just so fantastic to see all shapes and sizes out there achieving personal goals - whether it is raising money, getting a PB or doing the distance for the first time.  I'll even admit to a few tears whilst cheering the people at the back.   For example I watched my brother run his first half this year in Birmingham and was soo pleased to watch him achieve this - and in what other sport can you compete in the same event as a world chamption - in this case the great Haile Gebrselassie.

I also love it when it all just clicks - the other week I was running along the river, the trees looking gorgeous in their autumn colour, the sky blue and the sun dappling through the leaves and the legs were, for once, just flowing.  Those moments are completely addictive.

London Marathon was on my bucket list - did that 2011 and now training in 2012

weight loss

competitiveness of getting better times than others in races

social

love going out for hours with my music on along the seafront and then updating facebook with how far i have run to get likes - yeah i know thats sad but the question was asked

I think the hardest thing, is when you are truly just starting out. I have lost count of beginner runners, who are all motivated, do it for a few weeks, and then decide to pack it in. Maybe its been a hard week, or it just isnt as fun as it looked when i saw others doing it. Fair play to them, its kind of like swimming, i did that for a while, all those lengths, but wasnt me at all. Getting through that barrier is the hardest. To keep at being a beginner runner, and going beyond it.

It can be rain, sleet, sun, or wind and i am out there. Usually the worse weather the better for me sometimes, since i like feeling nature work all around me.

I did a good run a few days ago, i wasnt really paying attention to what my Garmin was telling me. I just ran for the fun of it, and actually gave myself  maybe my best time. 8 miles in 56 minutes. If you work to hard at it, and forget what fun running can be, you might surprise yourself.

I attempted an event at the gym at the end of october - row,cycle & run. My row and cycle times were reasonable but the run was appalling. 2k and I couldn't get through it without slowing to a walk. I have lots of friends who run and never thought it was for me. But I never knew about the buzz. Now really looking forward to setting and smashing some goals. 5k in January to start off.

Running changes you as person I think in a positive way.

There is nothing that feels the same. After I trained for a while I realised that my body could do much more than I initially imagined and that I'm made of sterner stuff than creamy cakes.

Its my 'me' time. When I'm alone with my thoughts, can just zone out and daydream or set the world to rights. Go running with a mate and chew the fat, get your gripes of your chest. When you've got a young family and a busy work life you don't often have time to concentrate on yourself. Running gives me this time. The exercise for me is a complete by-product, but the thrill of going further, quicker or for longer when you know that last month you couldn't is irreplacable.

I now realise why you 'play' most sports, but you 'do' running. I used to think it was because other sports were fun and running wasn't, but now I know its because your only rival and your fiercest critic is yourself and it's them that you must answer to when you can't be arsed to step out of the door.