Why I Love to Run

There are numerous reasons that I love to run: gets my blood going, calms my mind, enjoy the silence of the early morning, love the way that the body feels purged when it is all over.

But my number one reason for loving running as a form of exercise is this: No matter where I go, I can do it.

All I need are my shoes.

I’ve been on cruises before with nothing more than a quarter mile track and/or a treadmill, and I’ve run.

I’ve been at conferences before with nothing but a two hour break between lunch and afternoon workshops or early morning hours before everyone else was awake, and I’ve run.

I’ve been in foreign countries on vacation, and I’ve run.

No matter where you go, as long as you have your shoes, you can run.

This afternoon I’ll be flying out to Denver and then on to Florida to visit my mom, who is recovering from her stroke in a nursing home. I’ll be staying almost one week-Wednesday to Wednesday-and during that time have three runs scheduled: a 6 miler, a 15 miler and a 3 miler.

I’m taking my shoes, gel packs, waist pack, music player and running clothes. No heavy equipment, nothing that won’t easily fit into the suitcase.

I  don’t need to find a gym, equipment or a pool.

All I need to do is pull on my shoes and run.

The largest problem: Finding the route I will take. I know the area already, and I know that I need to run about 17 miles on Saturday, which will take me about three hours, so if I start in an area I know well then I can just run and run and run.