At the end of every Runners’ World issue, “I’m A Runner” features a somewhat known figure who is also a runner; the page summarizes their history or interest in running. As a high school cross country runner, outdoor adventurer, wildlife field researcher, and introvert; consider this my 2 cents’ worth.

While growing up I remember thinking I was pretty good at pushing the merry-go-round. Although that was ages ago and a pretty minor aspect of life, that’s when running probably initially crossed my radar. Fast forward through 4 years of playing soccer as one of 1 to 3 other girls on a co-ed team and 8 years of community softball.

Then I hit high school, where I made the mistake of participating in marching band my freshman year. Yes, I made friends in a largely unknown student body, but I also lost months of my life to a pursuit that didn’t hold my interest. After trying band for a year, I wanted out.

Despite the fact that the band “needed me” and “nobody quits band,” I turned and literally ran away. Having met my now close-friend Manda and learning about cross country running through her, I joined my high school’s cross country team and thereby enjoyed the fall season of my 3 remaining years of high school by running in the woods.

I was an average runner my sophomore year, seemingly peaked my junior year with a PR of 20:50 for a 5K, and was between very good and above average my senior year. Unfortunately I missed my chance to possibly qualify for states when I pulled my hamstring in the week before regionals of my junior year. Instead of hoping for a top 20 finish, I was lucky to come in second-to-last as I limped my way through the race. Regardless of my placing, running had become part of my life.

Many people run for the competition. Some run to stay fit. Others run for a hobby and the companionship it brings. Some run as a means of exploration. Tradition keeps some people running. Other runners use the benefits of exercise to blow off steam or de-stress. I believe most people run because it simply makes them happy.

So as a random has-been competitor with shins that generally hate running on pavement, why do I run? I run because time spent running provides me with some of my best thinking time and also makes me feel alive. I also love it when people tell me “You’re crazy” for enjoying just a standard run. I’ve come to define myself as an “around the corner” or “end of the road” girl. Whether I’m running, hiking, biking, driving, or walking; I often can’t make myself turn around until I see what’s around the next corner, and then the next, and then the next… Eventually I remind myself that I have to get back to where I started.

As I run my brain seems to wake up and start making sense of various questions I’ve been pondering. I frequently have mental and verbal conversations with myself while running. Believe it or not, I even yell at myself in the middle of discussions with myself. During any given run I may make grunts of frustration or bust out laughing as I think through something. When I was up at UAF I thought up an entire speech based on running for a Communications class (while running). If I could have a thought recorder, I’d have journal or blog entries written by the end of most runs.

Sometimes I listen to music, and sometimes I just run. My go-to running music? “The Lion King” soundtrack. How can you not get jazzed to take off when you picture the rising sun and hear “Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba?” Listen to the build-up at 2:30 of “This Land” and 2:25-the end of “Under the Stars.” I can simultaneously get chills and have the feeling that I can power through anything with those songs.

My running regimen has come in sporadic segments ever since high school, but the ability to go running is one of few perks of being in town. As long as I have appropriate footwear, running lets me go anywhere and actually see places! I’ve been running through Isengard (regional park outside Wellington), running in -26F, and running on mud flats of the Bering Sea coast. Although my shins may not always smile with each run, the rest of me does. Because there are many times in life when I just feel like running.