Needless to say, running makes me happy. In my opinion, running is a cure. It gets the adrenaline pumping and the body moving. I know that running is some people's worst nightmare, but for those of you that can relate to my love of running read on.

I started getting into running around my senior year of high school. Before that, I hated running. I never understood why people would go out on runs... ever. However, it was spring when I went on my first actual run and I ran for only 2 miles. It may seem like a short amount of time, but somehow, within those 2 miles, I solved my " What happened? "teenage life crisis." I felt rejuvenated. I felt like I could run 5 more miles with a smile on my face. However, two days after that I set out on another run and I was so bogged down that I could barely run a mile. I was so devastated and disappointed. I thought of my previous run and asked, "What happened?" I thought of how happy I felt running those two miles before, and tried to channel some of that energy as I kept running down the trail. As I ran, I reminded myself that I don't have to run fast or feel like I'm running away from my problems.

All I have to do is focus on my breathing and keep my feet moving.

I guess that is what I like most about running, the simplicity of it all. I love just deleting everything in my mind for the moment and only focusing on how many breaths I take and how my feet hit the ground on the trails. I prefer running on trails in all honesty. I just feel more at peace when I'm running down a winding road not knowing where it leads or knowing it leads to my favorite part of the lake back at home. Although trail running is harder, especially in the winter, I think it is more rewarding. If I need to pace myself or set a goal, I make the trees my markers or certain trail heads as goals. If I make it to these goals, I can either stop and take a breath or I can continue running, beating all my previous expectations. If I continue running, I make new markers and new goals and repeat the process until I am done running or the trail has ended.

I like the rush of the wind on my face and the feeling of almost flying through the woods. I love getting mud on my sneakers when it has just rained and the trail is a wet mess. I feel like the mud shows accomplishment and willing to go out run and breathe. Honestly, I am so happy that I was able to push myself into running because if I hadn't, I would have never accomplished any of the races I have been in or solved any of my problems that I have faced in the last 4 years.

Running makes me happy. I know I can't be the only one who feels this way, and I hope that maybe I have persuaded some of you to go out and just run. That's all it takes.