Many people question runners. It’s definitely not an ‘out of the norm’ question to be asked why runners run. To be fair, though, if I wasn’t a runner myself I’d question it, too. Who would willingly run countless numbers of miles a day just for the fun of it? There are actually quite a few answers to that.

1. It’s satisfying

Finish lines may be one of the happiest places in the world. Nothing brings more joy to a runner than setting a personal record, so often times big smiles appear at the ends of races when a person knows they ran well. Running is hard and everyone knows it, so accomplishing a goal as simple as completing a 5k can bring such satisfaction to a person.

2. The typical “It’s cheaper than therapy” is actually true

Many people don’t realize that running helps people solve problems. Some people don’t think about anything while they run; all they focus on is finishing it. That helps more than some people give it credit for. Sometimes a clear mind is all a person needs to get through the next hour of their life. It can be relaxing and it gives people a time to slow their mind down from all the craziness happening. On the other hand, some people think through every detail of their life while running. Instead of focusing on finishing, they embrace the time they get to think through anything and everything that has been on their mind. In some cases, a run might be the only thing a person needs to help them get through their day, and that’s pretty amazing.

3. It builds friendships

Everyone needs a good running buddy in their life. It’s super easy--just find someone who is crazy enough to run with you, and then you have a friend for life. Awesome friendships are formed through running because first, you get to suffer with someone every day of your running life, and second, you learn so much about them! Running doesn’t always have to be painfully fast or hard, and on easier days, talking to your fellow runners can be a highlight of your day. My running buddies know more about me than they probably ever wanted to know, but that’s what makes them such great friends.

4. Winning is fun

One of the best reasons to run is the satisfaction that winning gives you. This doesn’t just mean winning a race, though (although winning races is SUPER fun, too). You are a winner if you beat your fastest time. You are a winner if you beat the person ahead of you. You are a winner if you accomplished running the amount of miles you set out to run. It’s human nature to want to win, and running is a very easy way to accomplish that.

5. It gives perspective

There are an unbelievable amount of people in this world who do not have the ability to run. If you are able to run, you should take that into consideration. There are people who would give anything to run three miles, so just think about that the next time you pass up a good run.

Although runners may seem a bit out of the ordinary, there ARE a few reasons behind the madness, you just have to be willing to accept them.