5 running conclusions.

Being a regular runner for the last year, it gave me a lot of thinking time ( between us, during running there's really nothing else to do except thinking and listening to music). Below you can find 5 small conclusions, that I have come to so far. Most of them might be very personal/individual, while others you might find also in someone else's list, nonetheless I felt it important to share, especially with those that consider taking up running!1. It will never get easier.Seriously, it never ever gets easier. I might be faster than I was a year ago, I might endure longer distances, but it still is as difficult as it was a year ago. If you are thinking to start running, don't expect it to get easier. It is a battle, each step of the way, each kilometer, lap, regardless of what an experienced runner you are.2. It is addictive. If you are as competitive as I am, you will soon notice how each time you go for a run you are thinking how to beat your previous time, how to go longer, how to beat your friend's time, etc. It becomes an addiction, because it makes you feel so good after you finish the run, though during the run your inner you is screaming to stop. It is addictive because each time you win over yourself! and who doesn't like winning? :)3. You can not run somebody else's pace. After running alone for a long while, I started running with some friends of mine. Artur, Sergiu and Ross are my usual running partners. The first times, when we went out running all together, I came in last. No matter how much I pushed to catch up, they were always in front of me. There's a lesson to learn in running and it is that you can not run somebody else's pace. It's your own battle, and your own pace, your own challenge and all you can do is work hard to be better than your last run.4. Runners are not the healthiest people. Of course, running has a lot of health benefits for your body and mind. However, most of the runners, because of point 2 that I mentioned, push too hard or overwork and end up having injuries. It is quite a paradox, since you start running in order to be healthier but end up going to doctors with back aches, knee problems, hamstring issues, etc. Here's a list of common injuries that most runners experience according to this article :1. Runner's Knee - 13% of runners suffered knee pain in the past year.2. Achilles Tendinitis - It makes up 11% of all running injuries; eight percent of runnersworld.com poll respondents dealt with it this past year.3. Hamstring Issues - 7% of poll respondents say their hamstrings have bugged them this past year.4. Plantar Fasciitis - 10% of runnersworld.com poll respondents struggled with it this past year.5. Shinsplints- this makes up about 15 % of running injuries; 10% of runnersworld.com respondents poll had shinsplints in the past year.6. Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) - ITBS makes up 12 percent of all running injuries.7. Stress Fracture - almost 6% of poll respondents had one in the past year.5. It changes your life. It doesn't really change your life:), but it does change your attitude towards life. You become more accountable, responsible, courageous, confident, and you truly feel like nothing is impossible, because you know you are tough enough to fight through anything that comes along. Your determination and will power in running transfers to your workplace, to your relationships with those around you, it basically re-invents your whole view on things that make up your life.If you are having doubts about running or you are not sure you can fit it into your social life, I'd recommend you to go ahead and give it one month try. You'd be surprised how much it can give you in return!