19: Why go Running

Every single time I go for a run, I am reminded of why it's not my favorite thing to do.  It makes me wonder why I even go running anymore, perhaps it's the satisfaction I feel of pushing myself through my body's pleas to stop or the fact that I actually got some physical exercise and I just want more of it after I'm finished.  I went running yesterday, not for very long because I had a packed day.  It felt so good and yet it felt horrible!

The sun was setting when I went out so it was getting somewhat chilly (good thing I was smart enough to put on a long sleeve shirt).  Whenever I run in the cold, my ears freeze up and it hurts like crazy!  My esophagus also freezes up from the gallons of cold air I inhale.  When it gets really cold, I just want to grab my head and curl up in a ball (as if that would help at all).  Besides the discomfort of the chilly temperature, the normal physical effects of running are sometimes enough to make me want to stop.  It's a little nicer when it's warmer outside: my ears and esophagus don't freeze but the physical effects of a good run are still ever so present.

While I was eating lunch today, I woman came over and asked if it would be alright if she sat next to me.  Of course I said it would be fine.  This woman amazed me in many ways.  She had no use of her legs and only limited use of her arms and hands.  Because of this, she asked me to help her pull out her lunch, water bottle, and books.  You can be assured that I felt somewhat out of place having fully functional limbs while she relied on me for assistance.  It seemed as if my body was saying, "Look at my fully functional limbs" while I staggered around, helping her get situated.  Funny thing is, I had begun writing this post when she came up to me and now she has given me some new insight.

So why do I love running and physical exercise even though my body begs me to stop every time?  I love my body and I love that I am able to run and move around perfectly fine.  I feel free when I am doing exercise.  I feel so blessed to have such an amazing body that works the way it should and exercising is a way for me to show my gratitude to Heavenly Father for giving me this amazing body. Because of this blessing, I also feel it is my responsibility to take care of my body so that I will be able to use it to help others who are in need.