Running around the world entry #1: How it all got started......

[Lauren Jones]

This is going to be a weekly post on this website from here on out. My reason for doing this? Simple: I want to share the wonderful experiences I have had running around the world. I would say that running and traveling are my two greatest passions in life, and when you combine the two you get some unforgettable experiences.
What better way to see the world than to run through it and experience it on the ground level. You will follow along as I recount my favorite runs in unique destinations from my past and as I try to complete my goal of running in 1000 different places Hopefully this blog gives you some ideas of places to run when you travel and insight on the countries themselves.
Just to set the record straight, I am not some super athlete or ultra runner (although one day I might like to be) and I am sure many of you have done more and ran in cooler places than I . We would love to hear your stories and see your pictures too!

I guess I should start at the beginning, my first runs right here Colorado. I ran cross country in high school and was terrible at it. I remember thinking 3 miles was an unbearable distance; I was very slow and not too motivated. Then something happened in college. I went to CU in Boulder and remember exploring the trails up there for the first time. Boulder has some amazing trails with great terrain and beautiful views. I started on one trail, and every time the trail split I kept going, I had to know what was around the corner. I probably ended up running about 8 miles on trails that day, partly because I got a little lost, but mostly because my sense of adventure kept me me wanting more, curious about what the next hill or view would be like.
After that I think I had a subconscious training plan of getting lost and letting my curiosity guide me on my runs because I went from a complete wimp to running up to 13 miles on trails within a couple of weeks.
I was HOOKED!

And that is what is so great about running, especially on trails or in new places. Our childlike sense of adventure takes over and we become explorers. It is hard to feel tired or notice how far you are going when there is so much to see and the unknown is just around the corner.....