I run because of a lot of different reasons.  I run to get my mind off of stress and things of that nature. I run because of the competition between other people on your team or on other teams. But I really run to beat myself. Theres a mental edge in running that we all know about. No other sport has this mental struggle. None to this level at least. I run because its fun. I run because it is a great way to make relationships with everyone. From your team or from other teams. 

Back to the mental struggle that everyone struggles with at every level. This mental struggle is present in every race. There are two options. A. keep on going and push through. B. pack it in and let shit hit the fan.  This mental issue is something that I have struggles with my entire career. Whether it is in a 5k xc race or even in a mile or 800. There is this imaginary wall once you hit it its hard to break through it. Not many people can explain. Its in the middle of the race when it starts getting hard. Whether you are in a mile race running 4:30 pace or running 5:30 pace depending on your skill level it is tough. You start to feel sorry for yourself. you get numb in your arms and legs.  You make up excuses in your head and think the people in front of you are better or you cant beat this kid. Well thats the challenge of running. You can hit the wall and mentally power through it. Forget the pain in your legs or your arms and just go. It will hurt for the rest of the race but you have to go one lap at a time and keep on going. It hurts during the race but an hour after the race after you run a great race and a new pr or win the race because you ran through the wall and didnt give in while others gave in. This is going to help you later. If you did it once you can do it again. 

This mental issue is what seperates running from all other sports. No other sport goes through this mental anguish. This is something I love and cherish of the sport. I hate it when I am in a race and this happens but when I look back I know that I wasnt going to die I wasnt going to get injured. It was all upstairs in my head. I was physically fit to run faster but my head was telling me otherwise. 

This is why I love the sport of running. The sport is not just beating the kid next to you or in front of you or behind you. But it is beating yourself. It is pushing yourself to and past your own limits. Taking the pain and throwing it away. I have not been able to do that in all of my races at all. This is something that I am currently working on. It is something that anyone can eliminate it will always be there. It is always getting better. Always pushing through those struggles. Trying to reach past the anguish and run fast. That is why I love the sport.