I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why I’ve found myself particularly motivated and dedicated towards running as of late. I’m not particularly fast, as evidenced by my less-than-spectacular mile times throughout my high school career. Additionally, my lightning quick metabolism allows me to freely indulge in the local Philly cuisine. No matter how many D’alessandro’s Cheesesteaks I stuff down my gullet, my body has managed to plateau at 10.36 stone, or 145 lbs for my non-UK readers.
I certainly don’t run in accordance with any fad, as Anchorman Ron Burgundy and Veronica Vaughn did during their first stint as a couple (“I believe it’s jogging or yogging. It might be a soft j.”) Nor do I subscribe to the legendary Kenny Powers adage (“I play real sports. Not trying to be the best at exercising.”)
My daily run is the one place where I can provide my mind with clear, unadulterated thought. I never run with music, or any predetermined route. I run to the point of defeat, and allow my body to wallow in its aching state during a postscript ice-cold shower.
Ironically enough, I came across the answer to my question during a run yesterday. As a 19-year-old college student, many of the goals and challenges I’ve met to this point have been accomplished with other’s approval in mind. Unlike maintaining a high GPA and/or acquiring a prestigious internship, running is a singular goal that I can unequivocally state I do for myself. This daily routine has provided my life with a sense of accordance in an otherwise confusing and hectic schedule. Although I don’t always find the time and/or motivation to run, I can normally assuage my reluctance with the prospect of the accomplished feeling at the completion of the run.
I think that I’m starting this blog for many of the same reasons that I find myself lacing up my running sneakers each and every day. In starting a blog, I have no predetermined agenda, or “route.” Running has given me a small taste of the accordance of setting personal goals, and I think a blog could only propagate this initial foray into “lifestyle design.” I think this blog may become a convenient outlet to hopefully discover a little more about myself at a particularly trying time in my life[1]. I hope you’ll be along for the ride[2].
[1] More on that another time.
[2] I’m looking at you, Mom & Dad.
Ethan Hirsch 
I am very impressed with your blog. It is wonderfully insightful and self-reflective. You have an active and sharp mind. You are definitely onto something with the running. We all need time to get our focus and to clear our thoughts. We need to get rid of stress and tension and work out our physical being, so that we can improve our mental state and maintain equilibrium. You made the right choice by taking the courses. Even though it was a pain, it was a nice way to get six credits out of the way, and to strengthen your GPA for later, more challenging, pursuits. Well done.
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