The firing of the race gun takes my mind to a state of peace. The pitter-patter of my race shoes on the concrete; the breathing of the other runners behind me, pushing me to do better. Getting that runner’s high, finally finishing the race, feeling like I have done everything in the world. I believe running is the only sport you need.

Running has helped me in so many ways. It has helped me mentally. Some days are tough. On those days, running is the best thing for me. Running has helped me shift my mindset on mentally tough days.

Running has supported me physically. Through running, I have kept a lean physique. Furthermore, along with keeping me lean, it has shown me proper ways of stretching, eating, and recovering. Not only does running support my cardiovascular system, but it also helps to keep not only my heart but also my lungs healthy.

The sport has helped me socially. Through running, I met people I would have otherwise never met. I have been able to develop relationships with people across Arizona, even if we are running against each other. You will often see me hugging or fist-bumping someone I have just raced neck and neck with. Through this community, we root for each other and celebrate each other’s latest personal bests.  Those people have pushed me to better myself every day. It has also made me more confident by having me talk to new people.

Grit is something that we need in order to thrive in this life. Running has taught me to develop grit. Running is hard; that is why most people do not like it. It pushes both mental and physical pain. That is where grit comes in; you learn how to address the physical pain so that you can continue to run, even if it means sitting out and taking it easy. When you are a hard runner, sometimes you get the urge in your mind to stop, but you tell yourself just one more mile, then that mile turns into two, next thing you know, you’ve done the hard work, and the run is over. This type of grit helps develop mental toughness.

Goal setting is a life skill I have learned through running. For each race, I set myself a goal, and even if I don’t hit my goal for that race, I reflect and try the next race. It has shown me that if I work hard towards a goal, it will more likely come true.

With this being said, running can help you in many ways. It can help you mentally if you’re having a hard time in your life. Running can help your only body you have by keeping it fit inside and out. Humans are social beings and need to learn to be social; running helps provide the opportunity to refine these skills. You need a lot of grit to live through everyday life; running helps you develop these skills. Goal setting is a skill you need professionally, academically, and personally; running shows you how to set those goals in an achievable way. The only sport anyone needs is running.