Today I am grateful for running. I am so so grateful for running. Running makes me strong. It makes me calm, and happy, and patient, and an all-around nicer person. It softens the edges of anxiety and banishes the panic attacks. It gives me permission to eat all the cookies I want, even into the inevitable metabolic slowdown of my 30’s. It’s a way to see new cities and new countries in an up-close and unique way when I travel, and a way to see the minute seasonal changes of the places that I live. My husband likes how my butt look in running tights. People are impressed when I say I’m a 6-time marathoner or that I’ve run a sub-4-hour marathon. It travels well; running shoes always fit into the suitcase. I can run after departing buses and sprint up train platform steps without getting winded. Running gave me something besides work to focus on in my 20’s, when my career threatened to eat my entire life. Running reassures me that there is a deep deep well of determination and grit inside me that I can access when I need it. It teaches and reinforces good life lessons: to adapt to what life throws at you; that while very little in life is actually merit-based, that the effort you put forth still matters; that overwhelmingly large tasks can be accomplished by putting your head down and only looking at the next step right in front of you.