Picture this: it’s three o’clock on a Monday in June. The sun is out, and the temperature is teetering between 99 and 100 degrees fahrenheit (just making sure we’re all on the same page here). It’s the first practice and my first day of high school cross country. “Lets do an easy run of only 30 minutes” the coach says. Are you freaking kidding me? I say silently to myself, why would anyone run for thirty minutes? The team sets off on the “easy” workout. Five minutes in, I’m walking behind trees and praying no one sees me. Little did I know I’d meet my soulmate that day.

Flash forward four years. I’m running over three miles at a time and training for a half-marathon. So what happened between hiding behind trees and now? I fell in love, that’s what happened. I fell in love with the only one I have ever loved. I fell in love with running.

Now if you’re anything like I used to be, you’re probably wondering how anyone could possibly fall in love with running. Running is torture, I use to say, something PE teachers used to punish late students. It’s simple to love running, really. Once you get over the hating yourself, the constant pain and torture, and the endless buckets of sweat, you find that running is such a tranquil and calming activity. I mean, no great relationship is easy.

Once at a cross country meet, I bought this shirt that said “Running is my boyfriend.” I had no idea what that meant, but my dad gave me money so I bought it. Now, I truly understand what those insightful words really mean. Running is the best boyfriend I could ever ask for. Apart from Joseph Gordan-Levitt of course. I wonder if he runs? I feel like he would be a runner. But I digress.

Running is my boyfriend because I can always count on it to make me feel good about myself. I can let my emotions out while running. When I have a bad day, or get into a fight with a friend or family member, running lets me take my frustrations or feelings out on it. I can truly be myself with running. Running does not judge, running does not complain, running does not get mad when I ditch it to hang out with my friends. Most importantly, running allows me to eat whatever I want. Running doesn’t get mad when I have too much ice cream. Best thing for a relationship if you ask me.

The thing I like best about running though is how accepting it is. There have been times when running and I weren’t talking. But as soon as I wanted to get back with running, it always accepted me with open arms. We could just start right back where we left off, almost as if we had never been apart.

Running and I have so many wonderful memories and milestones. There was my first race, my first running medal, my first fall, my first bug in the eye, so many charming memories we share. But with all the good, comes the bad. Running has left me with shin splints, torn muscles and the knee of a 90 year old.

Over our four year relationship, I have had two knee surgeries. I could not see running for months at a time. Being apart was the worst possible thing in the world. But I never worried about our relationship. I knew running would wait for me, just like Noah waited for Allie in The Notebook. Our love will live forever and ever. So beautiful, I know.

I truly see myself growing old with running. Running will stay with me forever and ever. Running came with me to college, and will continue to follow me wherever I go.