Friday, June 9, 2017

6 Effing Reasons You Should Run

Disclosure statement: this post was brought to you by the letter F. Rated G for Global Running Day.

In case you missed it, Wednesday was Global Running Day. Did you get your run in?

It seems as though there's a day for everything, isn't there? How did this even come about? For example, today is National Strawberry Rhubarb Day. I don't really care for rhubarb, but I can guarantee that my husband and his father would be all over this holiday. If only they knew that it existed!

Some might call it frivolous, but in this case, I'm glad there's a day to celebrate my favorite activity. Even though Global Running Day falls on a day that I don't normally run, I chose to commemorate this special day with a virtual 5k. My incentive? A free medal I received from I Love to Run that asks the question: Why do you run?

I might take that question a little bit further and ask: "why should you run?"



Here are 6 reasons to run, all starting with the letter "F". Don't let the post title fool you. This post is 100% safe for work.

Fitness: The most obvious reason to run is for fitness. Done at least 3-5 times per week, running will lower your resting heart rate and blood pressure, thus lowering your risk for stroke. Running can help reduce your risk of developing diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, and depression. Running can also increase your awesomeness quotient by 100%. According to at least one study, running can make you sexier.

source: www.theawkwardyeti.com
Fighting fatness: My medical assistant tells me that the word "fat" is offensive. Fine. Fluffy, fleshy, flabby--no matter how you say it, running burns calories and helps people fight obesity. Even after you complete a run, your body is still a calorie burning machine. But don't use your run as an excuse to go home and gorge on a pint of Ben and Jerry's. Or cupcakes.


Fun: Running is fun! Yes, running is hard, and there are some days where you will ask yourself why you run. In fact, there will be many days you will be tempted to say "eff this" and head to the bakery for donuts. But then there's that breakthrough run, where you feel like you can fly forever. Some call it the runner's high. The memory of those runs is what gets you through the tough ones. You never know when you're going to have a run like that, which makes it fun when you do.


Fashion: The clothes! The shoes! Sure, you can just throw on a pair of shorts and an old t-shirt and go. Or you could wear some flashy neon colored shirt and shorts and let the world know: "I'm an effing runner!" You don't have to spend a lot to look good--Old Navy has really upped their fitness fashion and TJ Maxx and Marshalls are always reliable sources for attractive, on-fleek running gear.


Friends: There's a saying that "runners are all friends you haven't met". We all get each other. We pass each other on a run and nod or wave. Join a running club or go to a race and meet other runners. We speak our own language. It's a crew that's fun to be a part of and the only requirement to join is that you run. Don't think you're not good enough either. If you run, you're a runner.


Fierceness: Running boosts self-confidence. Just ask anyone who's finished a half or full marathon. Setting goals and conquering a long distance race takes a lot of courage and inner strength, and those traits will carry over into your life off the road. Trust me on this one.


Don't ask me why I run, ask yourself why you don't. I'm sure you can think of many other reasons to run, but they don't all start with the letter "f". So put on your effing footwear and go!

What reasons can you think of? Bonus points if you can think of any reasons that start with "f" that I didn't think of. Why do you run? Did you celebrate Global Running Day?

I'm linking up with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for the Friday Five 2.0! Yep, I know I have 6 reasons but I just couldn't stop!




58 comments :

  1. I run for the Fettuccine. Ok no I don't. That's the only F word I've got right now.

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  2. Running keeps me mentally and physically Fuerte!

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    1. You're such a teacher!!! Ha ha ha I love it

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    2. I actually love this choice of words! I didn't go espaƱol for this post at all!

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  3. OMG - I was JUST thinking about all the ridiculous "National Days" that are on the calendar! I was actually thinking of writing a blog post about it. How do all these things get their own days? Is there some govt agency that designates these things? Do industry groups petition to get their random pet project designated as a national day (i.e. the strawberry rhubarb pie people)?? I'm so curious....

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    1. They're all fake holidays but they're fun for the people who celebrate, right?

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  4. Family! Nothing better than seeing my kids go out for a run and knowing that their old mom inspired them to give it a try! I also run in hopes that it will help keep me around a little longer with my family!

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    1. Oh, I love this word! I didn't use it because my family doesn't run. Much...

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  5. I run for all of those reasons you listed. Although i'm carrying a few more pounds than I would like to right now, I'm hoping that a change in diet mixed in with marathon training will help with the fluffiness, lol

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  6. Freedom. Every time I head out the door I get a small rush from the freedom from all the other stuff in my life.

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    1. That is such a great word, I wish I'd thought of it myself! Because yes.

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  7. For F***s sake, just get out and run! I run because, Frankly, I don't give a damn :D

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  8. How about flair and finesse? (Not that running has made me any more graceful or anything). ;-)

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    1. Just when I feel super focused, I trip over something and fly down the sidewalk...

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  9. How about for the F(ph)otos? Definitely for the friends

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  10. I did run on GRD!
    How about "for the Furkids"? It's a great way to spend time with our dogs. Of course mine is old so I don't run with her but we still walk!

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    1. I'd run with mine but she'd just pull me down the sidewalk.

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  11. Food! While I don't overdo it, running does give me a little leeway in the types and quantity of food I can consume.

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    1. I love that I can indulge a bit more than my non-running hubs!

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  12. The farts! While it's not okay to let one rip in a line at the grocery store, it's perfectly acceptable to get our farts on while out on a run.

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    1. I was going to say fartlek but there you are. Yes, it's nice to have the freedom to fart!

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  13. You got all my reasons. Glad I am in the friend one!!

    How about...

    Foto Ops
    Fattening Desserts
    Fanastic Race-cations
    Flab Eliminating
    Feeling Awesome
    Favorite Races
    Fulfillment
    Forever Sport




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  14. I did splurge on DD's munchkins, and ate half the box last Sunday. Woops. Those things are really easy to snack on.

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    1. Isn't that the truth? What is in DD that makes them so addictive?

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  15. I was helping at our church yard sale on Saturday. One of the ladies asked me my age. "53." "You look and act so young." (She's 38.) Oh yeah, baby, running's got me Feeling Fly. {fly (adj.) slang, "clever, alert, wide awake," by 1811, perhaps from fly (n.) on the notion of the insect being hard to catch.}

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  16. I run for all the reasons you mentioned, plus to prove to myself that I can. As somebody that always told themselves that they can't run, I love being able to continuously prove myself wrong.

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  17. Actually, I did not. I went golfing instead. But I will make up for it over the weekend! Cute post.

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    1. I've got a 10 mile run on Sunday and it's predicted to be 98F. F is right.

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  18. I run because it's FAWESOME. I don't know what that is but I thought I'd throw an F in there to see what happened. :)



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    1. I read your comment to my husband and he thought it was hilarious! He doesn't laugh much about the blog, so I believe you hit the jackpot! FAWESOME!

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  19. Love this post and that ebib medal. Fraternity? Like we're all bonded together. It's a stretch. Pun intended.

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    1. Actually, I don't think it is such a stretch. I always joke that we are in a club--frat pretty much sums it up, right?

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  20. Run to avoid the FOMO you'll experience if you don't!
    They had a story on NPR on someone who randomly wrote a book with all the "days" and it became an "official" source that they update from time to time. I think a lot of it starts with lobbying to get state or local government recognition for your product.

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    1. It's kind of entertaining, all the random national days! I get such a kick out of it.

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  21. Feels good! Even the hard runs feel good!

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  22. I did run with my run club on Wednesday. It was Fun! Same as everyone, I run for all those reasons but my main reason I run is to be fast. I'm a ways away still but I really want to qualify for Boston.

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  23. Love this!! You nailed it - and I would see the fierceness that I feel to be able to do what I do is a big incentive for running. And all the friends!

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  24. LOL. Love this!! I ran 5 fabulous mile on the Las Vegas Strip on Global Running Day! :)

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  25. Great post! I effing love running and all the reasons you posted are exactly why.

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  26. I run because it is fun to join a flock of fabulous women throughout the city!

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  27. I love this post and I love your sass girl! I have no more "f" words other than I run to be "Find Fabulous at Fifty"! :)

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  28. I love this, but being late to the party all of the F-words I came up with are already taken. I do love Darlene's "foto ops!"

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