Hobby or Addiction?

You know you're a runner when...

• you frequently get asked "When's your next race?"


• One of the first things people ask you when they haven't seen you in a while is "What race are you training for now?"


• you always have your next race on the calendar.

These are most of my race bibs. There are a few missing. I hope to fill up another large section of wall this year.

At what point does running cross the line from hobby to addiction?

I had this thought the other night after registering for 3 different races. Has running become an addiction? Hmmmm.... I'm still leaning towards hobby. One that is beneficial to my health. On days I wake up at 4:30 AM it's my nutty hobby. On days I'm wound tight, it's my stress-relieving hobby. And some days it's my how-hard-can-I-push-my-body hobby.

I'll admit I get antsy if I go more than a day without running. Is my body addicted to the exersion of energy? Or is it my brain telling me I need to stay on track to achieve my goals? I'd say it's both. Mind and body have to work together.

My sister Katie committed to doing a half marathon with me in April. She hadn't fallen into a good exercise routine since Ezekiel was born, but once the goal was set she fully engaged. Now two consecutive days without running drives her nuts. She knows she only has a little over 11 weeks to push her body further than she's ever ran before.

When racing plays a role in weekly runs, running becomes a competitive hobby. When running becomes a daily necessity to make it through the day, it's an addiction. I'm definitely the former.

So, you won't be seeing me on an episode of Intervention. But, you may see me at the starting line of a race. I'm always looking for my next race and someone to run it with!