Running is Good

I would like to state for the record that there are at least two good reasons to jog every now and then.

But first, I would like to be clear on one thing: I don't love running. There are people who, God bless them, love to run. There is something theraputic, soul-releasing, and joyful in the act of putting one foot in front of the other in an athletic manner. I am not one of these people. Running hurts. Sometimes, when I'm in pretty good shape and have been running frequently, it hurts slightly less than when I've been sedentary for two weeks, but it is always a discomfortable act, if that's a word. Unlike, say, bicycling, there is never a moment when you can coast while you're running. Downhills are a bit easier than flat land, but you still have to move the feet and be extra careful that you don't topple over completely. Now, if you're talking about running within the context of some competitive field of dynamic athletic battle, that's a whole different story. I love that. It is the act of pure running simply to cover ground, either in small circles or in one big one, that I just can't completely embrace.

All of this does not mean that you should not run, because of the following two good reasons:

1. The lengthy endorphin rush that follows a good solid jog is genuinely invigorating. Immediately after running, I pretty much want to die. But after some staggering about, stretching, and a hot shower, the endorphins kick in. And these are no junior-varsity "I'm so happy, 'Lost' was an extra five minutes long this week" endorphins. These are the big boys. When they're really rolling, I am the sort of person who might, with a blizzard screaming outside, say, "Hey, let's go build that two story barn in the backyard that we've been talking about for so long!" The great thing about the endorphin high is that unlike certain chemically-induced moments of inspriation, you damn well earned it. You suffered, and not only are you a better person for it, but you have this spectacularly optimistic outlook on life to show for it.

2. The sleep that ends the day of the runner is deeply restful and genuinely satisfying. Your body has had its ass kicked, and when you give it the signal to go ahead and shut down, it does so with an efficiency and a relish that is incomparable. The sleep that I get after watching an entire day of professional football on TV is not exactly restless, but it does feel a little bit undeserved. The body says, "Hey, fatass, you were nearly immobile for about 10 straight hours today, and now you want me to just hang out in a prone position for seven more hours? If you say so, but it's not going to be anything special." The sleep of the runner is well-earned, to be sure.