Grace Harrison

Running changed my life, but it didn’t start that way. At first, I absolutely hated running. I’m Grace Harrison, a freshman at the University of Georgia, and here’s how and why I went from being an anti-workout teenager to a running fanatic.

I started running my freshman year of high school because I wanted to have more physical activity in my life. The beginning was no walk in the park, I would dread going to practice but I stuck with it. Eventually, I improved and running became more enjoyable. I found myself getting excited to go to practice and run on the beautiful trails that run along the American River in Sacramento, California. I fell in love with the sport and wound up running cross-country all four years of high school.

The sport brought ups and downs but it taught me a lot about determination and grit. Running completely changed my lifestyle. For me running is like therapy, it is my time to think and let go of whatever is stressing me out. I always make time for my runs because I know that running is something that brings me joy and happiness.

Running is universal, meaning it can be done anywhere. I love running in new places and seeing new sights. To me, the best way to get acclimated with a new city or travel location is to run through it. I did this in Paris, with my father. One of my favorite memories of this special place has to do with running. It was bright blue French morning as we ventured out for a run with no idea where to go, just the desire to run. It was so different from my hometown routes, but I loved it. Running on the cobble stone along the Seine river was a memory I will never forget. I have so many wonderful memories associated with running. Running is something I recommend to all. While it might not be easy the first few weeks, or even months, it can truly change your life, you just have to get out there and go.