Joyous....

         Running's largest contribution to my life has not been fitness, or weight loss, or even pride, it's been the constant feeling of sheer joy. I don't quite know why or how exactly running has been able to accomplish such a unique form of happiness, but yes, I feel a constant flow of joy in my life and I attribute it all to running. 
           George Sheehan in his book Running and Being (an amazing book by the way) mentions something about the runner facing his or her mortality in every run. I am totally paraphrasing here, but in essence, he says that in every run there is a face-to-face encounter with mortal pain and an epic 'battle' takes place in us which we come to some form of deliverance at the end. This could be the source of the joy. The daily dose of 'triumphs', if you may, lends itself to us feeling invincible emotionally and physically which in turn allows us to see the world as amazing as we feel.