Deprivation sometimes can be one of the most marvelous teachers.
— Michele Bachmann
Deprivation is the Wednesday word this week.
To the non-runner, the life of a runner seems like a life full of deprivation:
- Early nights before early morning runs
- Watching what we eat to maintain a healthy weight
- Being sidelined by injuries
- Missing events because of those early nights to go running early
- Missing events because we’re too busy training
- Mountains of laundry to do all.the.time
What non-runners don’t understand is that running gives back more than it takes away:
- More energy (you have to be a runner to understand that one!)
- Better self confidence
- Wonderful running buddies
- A sense of purpose
- A feeling of accomplishment
- Runner’s high
- More time out in nature
- A little more leeway with healthy eating
- Stress reduction
- Better sleep
Inactivity and deprivation of all accustomed stimulus is not rest; it is a preparation for the tomb
— Robertson Davies
What has running given you?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
You forgot about our empty wallets after paying for race fees and new shoes — but you’re right, it’s all still a bargain.
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Yeah, actually, I almost did put that in there. 🙂
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I couldn’t agree more! Love it. Yay for new running buddies 🙂
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I agree…running gives so much more than it takes away!
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You nailed it 🙂
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Thanks!
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I agree the scale is definitely tipped to the benefits side. I didn’t post anything because even with an injury — I don’t really feel deprived. Just missing the racing scene.
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I think when I’ve been injured, I just miss running, not so much racing (because so often racing is what got me injured in the first place).
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I think running has really given me a better sense of self, which I guess I was a bit deprived of when I first started running. I was new to the area we’d moved to, a new mom, not loving my career, and not sure where life was heading. Running gave me goals to work towards, but also has created a sense of identity for me!
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That’s funny because I was new to this town when I started to run, too!
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I totally agree with everything you wrote. See you later.
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Running has given me so much, including a reason to own two grown-up sized tu-tus! (they are beautiful)
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Yes to all of the above! Running rocks!
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Yes. Agree. Energy, confidence, and frienship. I’m so grateful to be running again.
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I love this so much. You nailed it!
Thanks for linking up!
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Running has definitely made me the person I am today. It has led me to adventures I would have otherwise missed out on, it gives my life purpose and structure, and it gives me energy! I love your perspective on how the life of a runner probably looks like a life full of deprivations to a non-runner. But it is truly anything but!
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