Why I Run

Sam Davis

The famous French philosopher, René Descartes, once quipped, “Cogito ergo sum,” or, “I think, therefore, I am.” For him, the very act of thinking implied existence. My interpretation of this statement would be, “I run, therefore, I am!”

I cannot think of many activities in this world that make me feel more alive than running. I have pondered for quite some time whether to write down my feelings about why I run because of their personal nature; I did not want to trivialize or reduce something very complex into a simple sentence or two. But, after reading many heartfelt stories about why so many run, I could not resist taking a feeble turn at it myself.

Running provides balance to my life when everything else is out of kilter. I consider it a continuum allowing me to come and go as I am able. I know that it has always been there for me and I would like to think that I am a better husband, father, brother and friend because of it. I realize that I cannot solve all the world’s problems in a single run, but I can figure out how to continue evolving into a better person as I journey towards enlightenment!

As I run, be it morning or evening, the world of great affairs sweeps on, unknowing and that is the way it should be; this so-called solitary activity is known but to me and to those who make up the community of running.

I run to calm down my nerves before I say, “I do” at my wedding; I run with the realization that in a few hours I will witness the miracle of my daughter’s birth; I run in memoriam for the still-born son of a very dear friend; and I race on the morning of my father’s death because all I can do is put one foot in front of the next. These reasons and many more are why I run.