Image from Grant MacDonald

Many of my close friends are runners.  Some are former highschool or college cross-country stars and others continue to run more miles in a day than most people commute to work.  I’ve noticed lately on Facebook that more and more people are running their first half and full marathons.  It’s a rare week when somebody doesn’t post pictures from a 5K.  So what’s up with this?  Have they all gone crazy?

I don’t think so.  I think there are a lot of reasons that young professionals get into running.   There are the obvious health benefits — running is just about the best cardiovascular workout in existence.  It’s cheap and simple.  You don’t need any special equipment, a home gym, or even a gym membership, just a pair of decent shoes and some pavement.

Then there’s the sense of achievement.  In a time when most of us are still in entry-level positions, making our way through grad school, or trying to figure out just what we want to do in life, running can provide little milestones and achievements every day.  Running a half or full marathon is a huge goal that you can work towards and typically achieve in less time than it takes to build a successful career.

And you learn real skills.  Most runners have insane discipline.  They’re constantly competing with themselves and pushing themselves to go a little further or faster.    They also form very strong friendships with other runners — a bond cemented by freezing cold winter runs, getting each other through injuries, and sharing in personal achievements.  Seriously, I’m thankful they let me — the one who can do four miles on a good day — hang out with them.

There’s a lot to gain from running, both physically and mentally.  So push yourself a little harder today, whether you’re getting up the courage to sign up for your first marathon or just  running two miles around your neighborhood.