Why I Run. The Reasons Are Three.

Reason #1: I am a results oriented person.

It could be genetic; it could be because I worked for a results-oriented boss for a decade; it could be a combination. I just get a thrill from comparing my results now to earlier results, and it's so easy to measure. Either you ran faster or you didn't, ran longer or you didn't.

Reason #2: It makes me feel strong.

I make it a point for my last mile or two to be the fastest of the run, and when I finish I think to myself, "I can't believe I did that!" and I get all excited and proud of myself. And again, I think back to how hard it used to be for me to run even a mile, and now a 6 miler isn't even a big deal, and when I run 10 or more, the hardest part is figuring out what movie to watch (it's so cold that I'm usually on the treadmill).

Reason #3: I'm trying to protect my assets.

Back in the college days, two friends who shall remain nameless, Brian and Will (did I say nameless? I meant surnameless. Also, they are in this picture...

...but other than their names and faces I will not identify them.)

informed me that my most redeeming asset was my backside. They were all matter of fact about it, like they were just taking a moment to inform me so that I didn't waste any of my valuable time on self-evaluation or introspection. Additionally, they were talking about assets in general, not just physical assets, so the old behind, in their minds, ranked even above my sharp wit, intelligence, and super-thick hair. In hindsight, they were probably trying to cut me down a notch after I embarrassed them mightily by outscoring them both on the LSAT. But, I run anyway. Just in case they were right.