Jeff Galloway - 100 Reasons to Run...Now!: How to Jumpstart Your Run

100 Reasons to Run... NOW!

Medical Disclaimer:

The information in this book is intended as a general guide, and in no way should be seen as a substitute for your doctors own advice. All care is taken to ensure the information is free from error or omissions. No responsibility, however, can be accepted by the author, editor, publisher, or any other person involved in the preparation of the material for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the published information. Before commencing any new health program, diet or exercise, always consult your doctor.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Jeff Galloway

100 Reasons to Run... NOW!

How to Jumpstart your Run

Maidenhead: Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd., 2012

ISBN 978-1-84126-762-7

All rights reserved, especially the right to copy and distribute, including the translation rights.

No part of this work may be reproduced including by photocopy, microfilm or any other means processed, stored electronically, copied or distributed in any form whatsever without the written permission of the publisher.

2012 Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd.

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Like many children in Navy families, I attended 13 schools by the time I finished the 7th grade. At this point, my father became a teacher, we moved to Atlanta, and my new school required each boy to work out with an athletic team after school every day. Because of the moves, I had avoided sports and exercise, did not have sports skills, had become lazy and had gained a lot of weight.

My patchwork of educational experiences had not prepared me for the demanding and competitive academic environment at this Prep school, and I was struggling. The principals comment on the report card was: A little more of a push next year and Jeff will make the top half of the class. I was already studying more hours every week than most of the students I knew, who were scoring better on tests. I believed that I was intellectually inferior.

During the fall, I tried football, which was a total disaster from my and my coaches perspective. Before choosing a sport for the next quarter, I asked several of the other lazy kids for their choices and was surprised to hear that many had chosen Winter Track Conditioning. The consensus among the slackers was that the track coach was the most lenient in the school. Tell him you are running on the trails, and you only have to jog 200 yards to the woods and hide out.

I did just that for two days. On the third day, an older athlete I liked, looked at me and said Galloway, youre running with us today. I quickly came up with my strategy: as we entered the woods, I planned to grab my hamstring, claiming a muscle pull. But jokes started right away, and I kept going to hear the punch lines. As I began to get really tired, they started telling gossip about the teachers. I didnt last long the first day, but pushed a bit farther with them day after day and started joining the political and psychological arguments.

Most of these cross country runners were on the academic honor roll. But the controversial arguments led me to believe that I was just as intelligent as the others. Each academic period my grades improved and I too, make the honor roll. More importantly, I had become a member of the group and set a new standard for myself due to group expectations.

I was most surprised about how good I felt after a run. The after-run attitude boost was better than I had experienced after any activity during my young life. The camaraderie and fun during those runs kept me coming back, and after 10 weeks I was hooked on endorphins and friendship. I continue to be... over 50 years later.

There is no doubt that running activated circuits inside me that started a search for my potential. Im still on that journey. My greatest joy today is hearing the stories of those who have been able to enjoy life and overcome amazing challenges because they also discovered running.

Some of my very best runs were on days when I felt that I didnt have the energy to finish a mile. As my mind-body woke up, my spirit was transformed for the rest of the day.

Get out there and move the feet. There are some magical things that can happen.

Our mind-body organism is constantly adapting to make us better at what we do regularly. Running triggers a series of continual improvements because upgrades are needed in each of these areas: strong bones, efficient heart action, oxygen delivery, better and quicker thinking, and a higher level of awareness. While I enjoy these benefits, they are not why I am look forward to my run each day.

As you can read in the introduction, I was a fat, lazy, and unhappy 13-year-old when I started running. I was also struggling as a student. Within a few days of joining a group of distance runners, I felt better about myself, had more energy, and was better focused on my studies. Within a year, I was a good student, the weight was burning off and I was proud to have taken on the identity of a runner. When our family took a vacation, my first thought was where can I run?

As I became an adult, I began to make decisions based upon running. If I took that job, would my running time be reduced? Which of the affordable houses has the best running areas? If I married her, would she accept my running? Would she be a running partner as well as a marriage partner?

After I graduated from Wesleyan University, there was no running industry and no hope of making a living from the lifestyle activity that I loved. The only reason to run, as perceived by the general population and the runners I knew at the time, was to move to the next competitive level. But I sensed that there was something more powerful that pulled me out for my run each day. First, I felt better after a run than at any other time of the day.

As substantial as the physical/medical benefits from running are, the mental and emotional benefits are far greater. Running changes us, month after month, year after year. It triggers and integrates multiple circuits that improve us in ways that enhance our health, life, and state of mind. The overall message that running sends throughout the mind-body network is that I am getting better, I enjoy this, and I feel better about life.

What we do regularly modifies our thinking and behavior patterns. Aggressive sports tend to adapt participants into aggressive responses. Running tends to mold a person into positive contemplation, searching for potential, expanding current consciousness about making things better.

While running expands or maintains our physical capabilities and stamina at any age, it also activates the frontal lobe the executive brain. Studies show that running stimulates activity within this decision-making center, where strategies are developed and problems are solved. This uniquely human command center can take control over emotional responses coming from the ancient subconscious brain, sort out issues, find creative solutions, and dig down for intuitive strength when needed.