It’s 5:30 am and I have arrived to the starting line for the Sarasota Music Half Marathon. I’ve traveled all the way from New York to run this race and it will be my first official “runcation”. It’s February of 2017 Super Bowl weekend. The original plan was a weekends girl’s trip hosted by one of the gal’s who lives in Venice, Florida. There’s half marathon taking place in Sarasota so why not add that in there too. The idea was concocted by the host and she would be joining me for the race. But when the time came she physically wasn’t up for the feat and I ended up running this one on my own. She dropped me off and the others would join when I was closer to finishing my race. I was excited to venture into new uncharted territory and I was physically up for the challenge. My paces were improving during training and I was curious how I was going to do on this race. I’m no speedy runner, yet I was feeling confident about this one.

The horn blows and off we go, it’s still dark out and the first few miles will entail crossing 2 bridges. I felt great. Approaching the second mile I was saying to myself, “you got this”, that “runner’s high” kicking in. I was in my zone and thinking this is going super so far. When all of sudden I felt a strange tug and a resistance. My right foot got stuck in one the holes that join the bridge and I went flying, sliding onto the asphalt (not grass) like a short stop making a clutch play. I bounced, what felt like more than once on my belly. I never knew one could bounce on asphalt. I landed in the crime scene dead pose position, left arm up, right knee up. While this unfortunate turn of events was unfolding in mere seconds, yet it truly felt like an eternity. All I kept thinking about was my face and how I was going to avoid getting it smashed. I have never had such a personal encounter with my face pressed up against asphalt like that! My left elbow and right knee took the brunt. The core of my body absorbed the impact of the fall and my face WAS spared!!! By the miracle of God it was in tack, nada, zilch, zero! I was a bloody mess on the knee and elbow area, but I stood up, got my bearings and assessed the damage. Of course runners were concerned and offered help. In these situations runners will tell another runner that you are okay because you want them to continue and not “lose” time on their race. One guy told me he was wasn’t running for time and could stay with me. I graciously declined that offer. What did this crazy runner do? I brushed myself off and proceeded to finish my race, and finish I did.

How many of you have ever pondered on the possibility of conquering 26.2 miles or any long distance, but dismissed the thought just as quickly as it entered your mind. So, what exactly drives people to pursue this crazy idea of long distance running? Why do so many continue to lace up even when they’ve had the worst of the worst outcomes on their runs?

Some of these relentless runners are athletes, fat people, skinny people, short or tall, young or old, men, women, and teenagers young kids. Let’s not forget those who are in wheelchairs or who have other disabilities. And when I say disabilities, oh my – they are in a special league of their own. They rock!!! Achilles Hope and Possibility is an organization founded in 1983 who have empowered over 150,000 athletes of all ages and ability levels to participate in endurance events around the globe. I’ll tell you, this infectious bug DOES NOT discriminate!

It has been proven time and time again that there are endless health and mental benefits in running. The so-called “runner’s high” is real. Those endorphins boost ones ability to keep on going and a rise in endocannabinoids in the bloodstream pass into the brain creating that calm relaxed feeling. Long-distance running is said to dilute the memory of pain. Running any distance is about proving to yourself that you can get there. Getting to the finish line no matter how long it takes you. It exemplifies resilience and you overcome adversity.

Robin Harvie is an ordinary runner and author of, The Lure of Long Distances: Why We Run. He like many other non-athelete runners, started out as a hobby and eventually it morphs into some kind of obsession. It’s so odd that his started out with a bet as so did mine, and we both never looked back.

When non-athelete runners try to have a conversation with the “common folk”, to explain how your day started out in the morning with a 5 mile run. As Harvie explains, it usually goes like this, “If you have told this story already, nearly all who listened thought you were mad or at least asked, what is the use! As for the rest they may never understand. They will look on with complete incomprehension at the idea of making life harder still, although they listen politely before turning away”. I couldn’t agree more with this statement. It is classic. When I have conversations with my runner friends we can laugh with one another about when we try to have “normal” conversations about our running day with coworkers,”regular friends” and even our families. They kind of just tune us out after the first few words, are disinterested or the, here we go again look.

Everyone’s running journey is unique and usually goes with a great story on how they got started. I asked a fellow running club mate from We Are NYC Running Club a few questions about his running quest. Here’s what Konstatin Loguinov from Houston, Texas had to say.

Lissette: How did you come about joining We Are NYC RC? After all you live in Houston, Texas.
Konstatin: I was on one of the NYC Half 2019 buses. Got invited to the after party, met everyone and that’s how I ended up in the club.

Lissette: Tell us about your running transformation journey.
Konstatin: Started running a little bit more seriously back in 2018, like tracking the number of miles and stuff. Quit drinking back in 2020, that really set off my running. More time, more energy, less hangovers. Hired a coach last year once I realized that I need something a bit more structured from someone who knows way more than I do about it. That got me to the next level.

Lissette: Why are you running, and what are your goals?
Konstatin: It is a good way to compete against myself and just challenge myself with fitness goals. And speaking of goals… I guess I wanna run all six majors. and Run a sub 3 marathon. Then I can run for fun 🙂

Lissette: What is the biggest misconception about the sport of runners in general?
Konstatin: I don’t know what the biggest misconception is but people make up so much crazy stuff in their heads about it, whatever reason they can think of to not even try. From bad knees to whatever else. No matter what it is – if somebody doesn’t want to try it, they won’t. No matter how big or small the reason is.

Lissette: What in the world motivates a person to run long distance?
Konstatin: The commitment to your goal, whatever it might be – finishing the marathon, a certain time, whatever. After a while, it just becomes fun.

Lissette: What kinds of things do you think about as you run?
Konstatin: The first half of the run – “this sucks, I don’t even know why I am doing this”. The second half – “maybe it’s not too bad” 🙂 Seriously though, it depends on what was happening in my life that day. There is always to contemplate for an hour, it’s just different on each particular day.

Lissette: What advice can you give non athletic runners who are in a quest to search a better version of themselves?
Konstatin: Commit 100%. You can’t half ass your way to a better version of you. And be consistent with it. Although it probably goes with the 100% commitment.

In reality there is no true rhyme or reason as to why people choose to tackle long distance running. There is no exact science that is going to teach someone how to run a long distance without any repercussions. There are many books, you-tube videos, and countless resources that profess such promise.

There is one thing that seems to be the consensus amongst runners alike who run long distance. That is through trial and error and consistency, one overtime will gain infinite lifetime benefits. Those benefits maybe in the form of mental, physical work achievements, or social interaction and the thrill of camaraderie.

There is no true answer or magic formula that will explain what drives a person to run long distances. Or to continue to do so despite the journey ending in less than desired results. What is true to be said about long distance runners is that they will stop at nothing. Each and every journey is unique and it’s theirs and theirs alone to live and tell about it.

Harvie. (2011). The lure of long distances why we run. PublicAffairs.