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Running, and by extension physical activity, is a gift.
As with all great gifts, it is one worth sharing.
Often people don’t want it. They look at those of us who are regularly active and think that it is easy for us to run, that it is easy for us to exercise. To a degree, that is true. Those of us who call ourselves runners (or swimmers or cyclists) wake up with the urge to run, or swim or bike – maybe not as soon as we get up (I’m still trying out this pre-dawn thing), but eventually, at some point during the day, we are driven to get physical.
It’s not like that for everyone, particularly for those that haven’t imbibed in our endorphin-laced kool-aid. Our non-running friends don’t know that there was a time when the desire and drive simply weren’t there for us, but we forced ourselves to push on. Once through that wall, once through that two to three to ten weeks of faithfully getting it done, it all changed. For some of us it was a gradual awakening, for others it was a moment of enlightenment.
If it sounds mildly religious, don’t be surprised. There is definitely a cult-like mentality to dedicated runners, and the endorphin-high one gets from running is very similar to that of a religious experience or an encounter with a huge amount of chocolate. Some might call it an addiction, others might call it a religion. I like to think of it as therapy. But any way you slice it, for the greater majority of us, it is peace. Running is the place where the stresses of the day, month, year, can melt away for a brief moment in time. It is a place where we can work out the strategies of how to deal with our daily issues. Much like a drug, religion or therapy, running can ease the pain in our lives and help keep our personal demons at bay.
Just like drugs, religion or therapy however, running is not for everyone. As a running acolyte, that is something that is hard for me to remember. Just like there is room in this world for religious believers and non-believers, there too, is room for runners and non-runners alike.
Still, like many religious zealots, I have difficulty understanding how one could not enjoy the benefits running. I wish I could bottle up the kool-aid and give it out for the Holidays, just so people could have a taste of that joy that running (or any exercise that produces a lot of sweat) can bring.
I do believe that unlike religion and drug addiction, running doesn’t do harm to others in its name. It’s not like runners are about to start a runner’s war, right?
People will come to it when they’re ready I suppose. I didn’t start running regularly until I was almost 40. I wish I had done it when I was 30 or 20 for that matter, but honestly, I just wasn’t ready.
Who wants Kool-Aid?
Have you always been a runner (or whatever your sport of choice is) or did it come to you later in life?
Run Luau Run 
Great post, Luau, and I completely concur.
I was sharing thoughts with a friend recently on experiences with short term therapists. I related that I decided to go somewhere else after about the fourth session when I was talking about the role of running in my life and she said, “I hate running. It’s not for me. Just not my thing.” She had some other strengths as a short term therapist but the inability to understand how running (and exercise) were so central to my perception of my well-being was a deal breaker for me. Now that a little time has elapsed, maybe the problem was the SHE needed some exercise-induced endorphins in order to have a more positive outlook (hee hee).
I keep coming back to the phrase “getting past our buts by getting off our butts” and it’s so true – one foot in front of the other or one revolution of the pedals after another – whatever – it’s kool-aid we will all benefit from drinking.
came to exercise in my 30’s as things started to physically change, think fall, and don’t ever see that changing. after I get my asthma in control, who knows, running (short distances) may be once again be in my routine:)
Love this. I just posted it on twitter.
I’ve had the kool-aid and loved the kool-aid. I stopped drinking the kook-aid and it made me grumpy 😦 it’s not worth it 😉 With that said.. off I go out in these chilly temps!
Great post! Believe it or not I started running when I was looking for a job post MBA and was staying at my uncle’s place for a few months. My uncle and I are so close that we fought like cat and dog all the time. I began running to just be out of the house when he got home from work :-).
But, in its own wonderful way, running gave me the tenacity to stick it through the horrendous recession until I got THE job I wanted. So I guess for me it IS a religion 🙂
Well said! I’m a kool-aid drinker, as you know. Have been for over 3 decades. A few times in those years I got tired of drinking it, and a few times I’ve tried other “drinks,” but I always come back to running. Nothing helps me stay clear and level-headed quite as well. Plus, it makes me happy and healthy.
Like you, I wish I could bottle it up and give it out in a way other people could readily accept and consume. But since I can’t, I’ll just keep showing (and telling) how tasty a drink it is.
Run on!
I did not taste of the wonderful Kool Aid until I was 54 years old. I was under the false impression that as a polio survivor I was limited in what this body could do! After I was told if you use it you lose it after being given the diagnosis of post polio syndrome, I figured I had nothing to lose by using it and off I went to discover the wonderful world of running. When I had to stop last winter to rehab everything I had done to my body, I discovered how much running meant in my life (don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know you’ve got ’til it’s gone) so now I am back stronger and better than ever and glad to be in the Kool Aid club with all of you!
I’m new to the kool-aid, but definitely sold on the running brand. I never understood the running kool-aid, until @DP_Turtle talked me into trying out this running business at the beginning of the year. I like goals, so I signed up for a half-mary, having not run a mile in 10 years. Cycling had been my long-term kool-aid of choice…and I still love it. But grinding out the daily commute on bike in a city doesn’t give you the clear head, joy and peace that running gives me. And if I happen to miss a couple of days running…I can tell. If I get crabby, the husband now kicks me out the door to run until I feel better. I’m hoping to drink the running kool-aid for a long time!
It all came to me later in life. Now I’m a cardio addict. Run, spin, elliptical come and go in phases.
People think I don’t work hard for what I have but I’m in the gym 7 days a week most weeks. The benefits for me are enormous or as my wonderful husband puts it, I’m a bit bitchy on the days I don’t work out.
Drink the Kool Aid people!
After weeks of forcing myself to do it, I had a moment of enlightenment and never turned back. Another round of Kool-Aid, please.
You rock Matt. Yes…I didn’t start drinking the runner’s addiction kool-aid until I was 39 and going through a divorce. It seemed like the right thing to do (Just like when Jenny left Forrest.) Now I have my new Jenny, but I’m still a running addict. See you in Boston brother!
Found this blog post because it was linked to my latest blog post, which was about me complaining because, essentially, as much as I run, I have yet to taste the kool aid. I’m jealous. I want it!
keep running…you’ll get it.