Another Perspective

In my first post I invited anyone to write me an email describing their running story. Here is one that comes from one of my good friends and running buddy:

"Running in my life began as a chore. I hated it with a passion. Playing soccer growing up, the only running that I wanted to be apart of was running to chase a ball. Any training running was considered evil in my mind. I knew running kept me fit for playing long periods of time, and was for the overall benefit of the team but my personal feelings for it swelled with hatred."

"As competitive sports ended, playing became fun and recreational. Being pushed by coaches to go harder and faster was no longer a downer on my soul."

"I avoided running for the most part the first year after my high school sports ended, but went occasionally just to keep fit. Running wasn't a passion, but it wasn't a hatred anymore either since it was for myself. I did love the feeling of doing better for myself."

"I took a two year journey to Oregon, moving around the state to teach people about Jesus Christ. While there, a feeling of higher athleticism and opportunity to improve came upon me. Eugene, a city known as "Track Town U.S.A.", is in Oregon and rubbed off on me. I tried to get people to go running with me as this passion developed but not many would accompany me. Then returning back to Utah, a beast was unleashed."

"Running became a big part of my life. I went multiple times a week, if not every day. I progressed from short 1.5-3 mile runs, to doing 4-8 mile runs constantly. My speed improved and I was motivated to keep improving. I had a sense of accomplishment and wanted to keep improving my times. I got motivated to enter races when a friend of mine got big into running as well. Now I am a running fanatic, entering races multiple times a year. Recently, I had ACL and meniscus surgery, putting my running on hold for 5 months. I am just beginning to run without pain, and loving the satisfaction that comes from a good run. The worst part is trying to get back to my old, fit self. It's time for a new adventure to begin and the motivation of knowing where I used to be will push me to get back to where I was and keep improving. I love running and will push everyone around me to find the passion in running!"

Things I notice from his story:

• If you hate running at first, keep going!
• Find friends to run with, they will inspire you more than anything
• Once you're hooked it's hard to leave

If you want your story posted here send me an email at whyyourun@gmail.com.

In one month my team will be competing in Ragnar Las Vegas, (if you're not familiar with Ragnar I suggest you visit ragnarrelay.com and check it out today!) during the whole 24 hour run I'll be keeping you up to date via twitter feed as we try to win the whole thing! Follow @whyyourun today to stay up to date with our training and for the live feed Nov. 8-9.

And as always, don't forget to share! :)

One on None

Have you ever played any sport one on one with someone? Let's look at Basketball for instance. I take the ball at the top of the key and stare you down. My only task is to get around you and put the ball in the hoop. If I am successful, you lose, if I'm unsuccessful, I lose. We repeat this, alternating who has the ball until finally one of us reaches a predetermined score and becomes the winner of the game, bragging rights included.

Being a very competitive person, I love taking people on one on one. It's a rush, it's a thrill, but sometimes... I lose. And I don't like losing. One on one is fun right up until you score the last point and I lose, then it stinks, and I never want to play again (until tomorrow). While I believe there is a beautiful niche for one on one competition, I've learned to favor a new game: one on none.

This is where running comes in. Running is a one on none game. As a runner, you can be in a race with thousands of other people and not care one bit about who beats who to the finish line. Your entire concern is getting to the finish line. This is why this is a one on none game. There is no opponent to face down, no person to be better than, it's you against your body, it's you against what you once believed would never be possible.

As I mentioned before, I'm very competitive by nature. I love being able to say I won! As a runner, I get to say that every single time I go out. Think about it. If I'm trying to run my fastest time, I either do it, or I run slower than my own time. Either way, I win, either current me or past me totally dominated that run. I can feel great about my run today or great about my run yesterday. If I'm trying to run further than I ever have before, all I have to do is take one more step than I did yesterday and I win again. If my goal is to run more often than I did last month, that is totally in my power and up to me. In one on one you can play great and still lose, in one on none you are completely in control of the outcome.

Running is a passion for so many people because it allows us to push ourselves beyond what we think we could ever do. Competition is an amazing driver of success, and when you are competing against yourself that driver becomes even more amplified. Think back to the last time you ran a PR (that's Personal Record for the newbies). How great did that feel? At least for me it's better even than beating someone in one on one. Beating yourself gives the greatest satisfaction because you know you've improved. Whether you run a 5k in 18 minutes or 1k in 30 if you do it 5 seconds faster next week you can feel totally accomplished. That is the joy of one on none.

So if you're sick of always losing (or making others lose), go compete against yourself. See how great you can become! What you think is impossible now will one day seem simple and enjoyable if you stick with it. Keep competing and keep pushing yourself. That's just one of the many joys of running! And if you see me sprinting towards my home one of these days, cheer me on, because I'm probably on the verge of doing the impossible again! See you out there...

What's your story?

Hi. My name is Ryan Curtis. I'm a runner. I have a passion for running. Running is something everyone can do regardless of athletic ability or fitness level. Whether you run 1/4 mile or a marathon it can bring equal fulfillment to one who is reaching their goal. That's why, in my opinion, so many people are passionate about running. That's why I am.

When you become a "runner" you join an unspoken society, connecting you to millions of people around the world. The purpose of this blog is to bring this passionate fellowship together and give us a place to voice our passion and inspire others. And maybe along the way we can convince some who haven't joined the ranks yet to join our banner cause.

Some of my favorite memories and greatest friends have come from my associations with other runners. One thing I've noticed in my observations of this unique group is, we all run for different reasons. What inspires me to get up at 6:00 am to run 6 miles before breakfast is completely different from what inspires the guy I run with to get up and come with me.

Runners all share a passion, but the root of that passion comes in many different forms. This is a blog about where that passion comes from. I plan to share my thoughts and ideas, but my real hope is that you will share yours. At the bottom of each post you will find my email address with a plea for you to share your story with me. I hope that anyone who reads this will share with the rest of us the story of why you run.

Here's mine:

In high school I ran a lot because I played soccer. I didn't mind running, but I didn't necessarily enjoy it either. I ran because I knew it would make me a better player. It wasn't until after I graduated, and my opportunities to play competitive soccer diminished, that I found a true passion for running.

I returned home from an LDS mission on June 19, 2012. While I was gone my mom had signed me up for a 5k to be held on June 23, 2012. I had spent two years living near the coast, in the Philadelphia area, and I had to come home to the mountains, a mile above sea-level and train for a race in 4 days. Not an easy task. My first run the day after I got home ended about 15 minutes after it started. I had gone less than a mile and half and was completely winded and cramped up. Luckily for me I was able to slow-shuffle my way home. The next day I did a little better and I decided I was ready for the race.

As an athlete, I am very much inspired by competition, so on the day of the race I pushed my body further than it should have been able to go. I ended up placing 3rd overall, 4 days after coming home to Utah! That day I decided I liked running, and I was good at it. That was what started to fuel my fire. After many more hours of running, enjoying the scenery, pushing my body, relishing in the competition, clearing my head and building friendships I now have quite a list put together under the title, "Why I run."

It was the initial adrenaline that got me started, but it is the comprehensive beauty of the task that keeps me going. If I had to summarize why I run into one sentence I would say: it makes me a better person than I would be if I didn't run. I don't mean to say that one who doesn't run is less of a person. I mean for me personally, I feel that I am a better person because of what running gives me. That is what I intend to explain in the weeks to come, and what I hope you will help me explain by sharing your story with us.

This blog is not just for you to read and smile at my ideas. This is a blog for you to share why you love running. Maybe you just started and you really don't enjoy it. Maybe you have done it your whole life and love it. Maybe you endure it just to stay in shape. Maybe you do it for the love of competition. Maybe you don't run and are reading this blog to see why in the world anyone would want to put themselves through that, we want to hear from you too! Whatever your running story is, please share it with me and with the world. Running is what unites us, our stories are what make us unique. So... why do you run?

Send your story to whyyourun@gmail.com