Is running selfish? Why do you run?

So I can fit in my clothes.

its just a hobbie, to help me keep in shape and test the competitive edge a bit!

There are very few things in life that people do for reasons that are not selfish. It is human nature. Running is hardly different than working a job to get yourself toys/clothes or so YOU can support your family. All done for things YOU want.

Well that is how I see it at least.

I don't know why, I don't think or dwell on it.

1. the competitiveness-although, its not as much since college.

2. community-getting together with other runners is great

there doesn't need to be a reason, running even as a self-serving hobby/sport/whatever you consider it is much better for you than some such things like gambling, smoking, watching too much TV, etc. everyone has something somewhat pointless that they do for enjoyment.

that being said, running makes me a happier person and so I can be there for other people and make them happy. maybe this is delusional, or not really a direct effect of running, but I think that as I've become a more serious runner I've also developed as a friend, and I've had conversations with people on runs or related to running that have made some kind of positive difference, perhaps very small but still something.

also, I like beating people in races.

There are a lot of reasons. I'm just an average runner, but.

- I am a happier person when I run. It breaks up the day, gets my body working. If I am sedentary too long, I get depressed. If I run, that happens less often.

- I feel better physically.

- Because I feel better physically, I treat my body better. I drink less. I don't smoke cigarettes or pot (even if it was only the occasional cigarette... once a month or so). I don't eat kebab van food every night.

- I am more relaxed and treat my friends better, I think.

- I also have an easier time focusing on my research and keeping up with reading, for whatever reason.

- I don't feel guilty for those nights when I do eat kebab van food and drink 10 beers. Usually I burned that many calories in the last two days anyway just running.

- I like to compete, but this is so far down the lists of important reasons to run now. But it is still what gets me out of the door every day. The competition is largely with myself now, but it's still competition nonetheless.

I've been back in the game for almost a month now and I'm feeling really good. Hopefully I stay healthy. I forgot how enjoyable running is.

twice a runner wrote:

I don't eat kebab van food every night.

What's that?

Foodie wrote:

twice a runner wrote:

I don't eat kebab van food every night.

What's that?

Never mind. Google is my friend.

Higher, faster, stronger.

Higher, faster, stronger.

Deep Shallow Thoughts wrote:

Is there some noble cause to run?

How often do you ask why you run?

Do you ever come up with a good answer?

Does there have to even be a good answer?

Yes! It is noble to work hard to be in shape so that I don't have to be yet another Fat North American who drains the medical systems. When others see me run and see how beautiful I am, they too may be inspired.

This is in addition to actually liking the activity.

Foodie wrote:

What's that?

Never mind. Google is my friend.

[/quote]

Yes! Haha, that Kebab van is literally a half mile from my apartment. It is also the best van in Oxford. Ali is a legend. Proudly (and kind of sadly) I have not eaten any of his food since December.

I do all of my training at 9:00 P.M. and later for the simple reason that I have a family.

I'm starting to run higher mileage because the five years directly after college was a taper down to about 15 miles a week. I'm now sick of people asking, "did you ever run a marathon?" once they find out I run. I'm running so I can run a fall marathon so I can respond differently to that stupid question and then go back to my 15 miles a week schedule.

Is there some noble cause to run? Nope.

How often do you ask why you run? Every time I run.

Do you ever come up with a good answer? Sometimes.

Does there have to even be a good answer? Nope.

Is there some noble cause to run?

I think people run to enrich themselves and make some sort of personal achievement. Sometimes, you hear people say they 'run for thier teammates' or they 'run for god', but I think those are always secondary and I don't think anyone really starts running for those reasons. So the answer to your question depends on whether you classify personal enrichment as a 'noble cause'. I don't see why not. One thing I can say is that the people I have met through running seem to have a higher level of character than random people I've met elsewhere.

How often do you ask why you run?

Not much... although the answer has changed from 'running to stay healthy, slim, and fit' to 'running because I enjoy it (and to stay healty, slim, and fit).'

No, there doesn't need to be a good answer to "why you do you run?"

I am constantly asked, by my friends who don't run, why.

Tim Noakes, in Lore of Running said it pretty well:

--I love privacy, have an overwhelming desire for solitude, and have an inability to relax or talk around most. I have an over concern with health, I daydream, am absentminded, I procrastinate, and have an inability to make decisions. And so on.

Running provides complete solitude. Even in the most crowded races, the point is reached when fatigue drives us back in ourselves, into the crevasses of our souls that we can only see in times of much duress. It gives me health and sanity, and context for viewing the world. It also gives me humility, discipline, modesty, creativity, and pride.--

That isn't word for word, but close; you get the point.

Personally, I tell people that I am addicted to running. If I don't run, even for one day, I seem to feel horrible, almost sick. Now whether that sickness is due to guilt I don't know, but I do know that because of this withdraw-like-feeling I haven't taken a day off since 2000.

I used to run to win. I ran to get a scholarship so my parents wouldn't have to worry about paying for college. Now I run so I don't add to the already outragous number of obese people in this country, and because diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cancer run in my family.

So really, I'm not selfish at all because I'm trying to keep others from having to pay the price for my poor health choices with high health insurance rates.

I can't ever figure out why I run until the first few steps of each run.