Rewards of running

One of my favourite sounds is the dull crunch of my running shoes on earth, the purity of cool air rushing past my ears against the sound of measured breathing.

Running is my escape from the tension and loudness of life: the one time of day that I concentrate solely on the blood rushing through my body and of focusing solely on what I am doing in the moment. Though I am a lifelong runner and profess to love it, I think that it's a difficult, laboured love. Running -- hard, stealthy running - -- requires pain. Pushing through the pain of tiredness and stitches and sore muscles brings the reward of low body fat and strong muscles, but it also provides an immediate reward, sometimes known as "runner's high."

Though recent research suggests that the feeling of peaceful relief that some runners get after a hard run may be "all in your head", I'll take it. Part of the reason I enjoy my runs so much is the soft, satisfied feeling I have because I've done something good for my body and spirit. Whether or not that's endorphin-related, to me, is irrelevant.