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What is a Runner?
What is a runner? According to Webster’s dictionary, student edition a runner is “A person who runs”. But to a runner these are only words. To a runner running is life. It is a single driving force that cannot be filled at the local 7-11. It lets the runner know that if he can make it just one more mile, that he will have completed a total of three miles. It lets the runner ignore the voices of others telling him he is dumb and stupid, and instead concentrate on how dumb and stupid he feels in these short shorts. And it lets the runner know that the further and faster he runs, the longer it will take to get home. The runner does not need the voices of seventy five thousand screaming fans telling him he has done a good job, he only needs the little voice inside of him telling him his shoe is untied. There are also numerous medical advantages to running. The American Heart Association believes that people who maintain cardio-vascular health live up to 5-7 years longer. This health advantage is often counteracted however by being repeatedly beat-up by larger and more hairy football players. And it may be the star quarterback who goes home with the head cheerleader, but it is the runner who gets root-beer flavored Popsicle’s and the occasional free bottled water. And it may be the football player who gets the multi-million dollar signing bonus, but it is the runner who gets the ten percent discount at Fleet-Feet. Running has touched the lives of so many. As the great Scott Nishi, who once ran 3 miles in over 22 minutes, said, “What the hell am I doing here.” There are even more inspiring words from running greats like Steve Prefontaine who once said, “leave me alone you stupid puke. Can’t you see I can barely breathe.” But the determination is even more prevalent in mediocre runners like Pat Boivin, who once said “I’m tired.” So if you too enjoy snot pouring from your nose and bile in your throat then join the ranks of America’s slowest growing sport -- running.
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