As a child, I fancied myself as a fast runner. I loved feeling the wind on my face and hair. I loved that the ground seemed to disappear as I run faster and faster. For the young me, it was the closest thing I could get to flying.

As the years passed, the mindless, carefree running also became less frequent despite the fact that there are more reasons for me to run and to keep running. As an adult, I would sometimes feel the urge to run to release some tension, to fight my frustrations, or to pretend that I could escape the usual worries in an adult’s life.

I hope to make running (or walking at times) a more permanent part of my life. It will not serve as an escape anymore but an essential part of my messed up weekly routine. I’m pretty sure there would be days when I would be very happy and content to just lie down on our soft, comfortable bed instead of pounding my feet on the brutal cement. On those days, I would need to remind myself of the reasons why I need to get off my ass.

• My post-pregnancy tummy. I feel very grateful to have a husband who says he will love me whether I get heavier than him or my tummy starts looking like several bread rolls squished together. However, I still have my own satisfaction to think of. I want to still be able to wear a two-piece swimsuit even when I’m 50.
• My health. Although I feel great now, I know that age is a cruel thing. It will sneak up on me and slowly lower my body’s efficiency. Running will be a futile attempt to ward it off but it will buy me more time.
• My moods. I can have the worst moods, ask my husband. Simple things can tick me off simply because I’m having an ‘icky mood’. Many times, I’d turn to cleaning some part of our house to de-stress myself – I have been known to clean the bathroom at 11 pm. Although there are perks like a cleaner bathroom, I would love a saner way to relieve stress or get out of that down feeling. The natural high that every runner feels is an added bonus.
• My outdoor side. Despite the fact that I spend more time indoors, I also love being outdoors. One of the reasons why I love living in Antipolo is the fact that there are more trees and the air is cleaner.
• My pockets. It’s definitely cheaper to go running outside than to enroll myself in an expensive gym.

What better way to maintain a hobby than to share it with others? So as I try to ingrain running into myself, I will share varied information on running that I find useful and you can read all about my successes and missteps.

Here’s to praying I don’t trip and fall.