When people ask me "Why do you run?"

Why do I run? This is a question I ask myself during every long run day, during every mile repeat, and during every bad race. However when I am faced with this question I can not come up with the words to explain it. I stutter at the thought and at the understanding of the simple question of why I run. I decided to change my mentality and asking this question after every long run day, after every mile repeat, and after a good race. And clear as day I knew every time the answer to a 4 word question I get asked far to often. I run because more than not we are told, "you can't. You can't do this, you can't do that. You're too tall, you're too short." But what is society to dictate our decisions, our dreams, our goals and make us feel as if we aren't good enough to accomplish them. I run because I like to feel the pain of a good race. I run because when I'm at the verge of death, is when I feel most alive. Because even when the runners high wears off, the pain of sore muscles is still there to remind you of how good that run was. I run during practice to build character but I run at meets to reveal it. There is not set reason why I run, but a cumulative of reasons of why I can't stop.

- @KaitlynKempen ( Kaitlyn Kempen )