Reason for Running #8 --- A Cause

When someone comes up to me and asks me "why I run," I really do not have any specific answer to it...The obvious health reasons and helping to clear my mind are usually my common answers, but what really drives some people to running is astonishing and can be very inspirational. Running for a "CAUSE" is one of the best reasons to start running. Runners World magazine always has amazing articles that highlight various reasons why people run. Reasons such as raising money for Cancer Research because a family member is suffering, raising money for Scholarship Funds, Support the Troops Causes, and the list can go on and on... I have not yet brought myself to running for one specific cause, but each and every race that I do usually supports some well deserving charity and the race entry fees (though they have become higher over the years) really go to help the community in which I live.

Running for a cause is something that can get people started into running or to change running goals. People who start out to help others truly amaze me. I began running because of what it could do for me (get me in shape for soccer); not even considering what my running could do for others less fortunate around me. Even big races have gotten involved in various causes and supports for those who are in need or in service to others. For example, The Peachtree Road Race on July 4th in Atlanta branched out in 2008 (and maybe other years) to give those who were not able to make the race a chance to run it. I personally have never run the Peachtree Road race, but my brother has... PEACHTREE IRAQ 2008. The fact that the race sponsors were aware of our military personnel not being able to attend and taking the race to them absolutely amazed me. I thank the sponsors of that race for giving my brother an opportunity of a lifetime while serving his country in Iraq.

If you don't get out the door to run for your benefit, get out the door to run for someone elses. Run for the children who are sufferring from various ailments who would give anything to run just 100 meters, run for the soldiers who come home wounded both physically and emotionally, run for your kids schools, or for the charity of your choice. Some of us do not have a lot of money to donate to causes, but we have time and dedication that would make up for any amount of money in the world. Just think if you wanted to run a marathon to support cancer research because someone close to you is sufferring from the disease, you could sign up for a cancer research funding race and get sponsors from friends and family members. I think my running for a cause will be for cardiomyopathy research (my father is sufferring from this ailment).

Whatever the cause, get out there and run and show the world you care, show them how one person can make a difference in the lives of hundreds. Who would think that doing something so unselfish could benefit oneself so much (health and otherwise).

Run On! Run for a cause...