Running the 109th Boston Marathon yesterday reminded me why I love running, especially distance running. Mid-way through the marathon, after I parted from the five other runners who belong to the Baltimore running group I joined after I returned from Nepal who I happened to encounter on my way to the bus to the start of the race, I found myself evaluating the sport. "Why do I spend my time training and my days off running marathons?", I asked myself. I wondered, while I found relief in the uphills after enduring 15 miles of grueling downhill.

For me, running is a microcosm of life. It teaches me more about myself and human behavior than anything else I do. While running I am able to tap into a host of human emotions and am forced to be patient with the process of attaining my goal.

It was a priviledge for me to have an opportunity to run this marathon. It was cathartic for me to run with former training partners and be a part of the support network we provided each other as a collective unit. It was uplifting for me to touch base with family and friends after the race who tracked my progress and were pulling for me while I was running.

Alive is the adjective I would use to describe my state yesterday. Running the Boston Marathon made me feel very alive.  ¶ 10:54 AM