Why I Run

As I put in the last couple weeks of training before I tackle this 50 mile ultramarathon; I find myself reflecting on the purpose. Below I will share my thoughts on why I have made the intentional decision to do this.

I run because it’s hard. Because it strips away comfort, forces me to face the truth of who I am, and demands that I keep moving forward when every part of me wants to stop.

For me, ultra running isn’t just a sport. It’s the place where I test myself against the impossible. An ultramarathon race isn’t something anyone casually sign up for. It’s a challenge that requires long months of training, early mornings, late nights, sore muscles, blistered feet, constant pain and a mindset that refuses to quit. But that’s exactly why I do it.

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A Transformation I Refuse to Waste

Not long ago, I was unhealthy, overweight, and on a path that was going to cut my life short. I battled high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, sleep apnea, and the crushing weight of my own bad habits. My body was breaking down, and I was on the wrong side of my future. But I made a choice. I lost over 100 pounds, rebuilt my health, and found a new purpose. Running wasn’t just exercise, nor was it required to accomplish my health goals. So, why? Why do I do it? Because, it became the symbol of the life I refused to lose— again. I have been on the bad side of health, fueled by comfort. That chapter is now closed, and honestly, ultra running is a way for me to push myself so far away from that comfortable lifestyle I can no longer see it in the rear view mirror.

Every step I take now is a declaration: I am not going back.

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There is Never A Finish Line

Ultra running teaches me that improvement never stops. You don’t cross a finish line and say, “I’m done.” The pursuit continues. There’s always another mile, another challenge, another limit to break. That’s life too—there is no point where we get to stop growing. We must continue to grow in our relationships, in our leadership, in our faith, in our strength, and in our knowledge. The finish line doesn’t exist. And that’s what makes the journey so powerful.

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Discipline, Commitment and Legacy

Running is a discipline that demands commitment. Frankly, there are days I don’t want to lace up my shoes. Days when I am exhausted, I have every excuse— my body aches, it’s cold, it’s hot, it’s dark, I am too tired, too sick, too broken… But discipline has nothing to do with how I feel. So, I lace up my shoes anyway.

And I don’t run just for me. I run for my family. For my kids. I want them to see their dad stare down intimidating challenges and move toward them anyway. I want them to learn that adversity is not a wall but a doorway—that pain, discomfort, and fear are part of the path to greatness.

I want my legacy to be one of never quitting. No matter how hard something gets, you keep working. You keep showing up. You keep pushing. That’s the example I want to set: boldness, grit, and the courage to do hard things, impossible things.

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Choosing the Hard Road

Running ultras isn’t comfortable. It’s not supposed to be. Comfort doesn’t change you. Discomfort builds resilience, boldness, and strength. Every mile past exhaustion reminds me that growth lives on the other side of the pain.

That’s why I keep running toward the impossible. Because when you do what others think can’t be done, you inspire them to reconsider what they think they, themselves, can do.

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So Why Do I Run?

I run to face fear.

I run to be bold.

I run to inspire others to live healthier, stronger lives.

I run because there is no finish line—only the next mile, the next challenge, the next step forward.

And the most important reason to me: I run to leave a legacy of resilience, courage, and leadership for my family.

Running is more than the miles. It’s the story I’m writing with my life. A story of transformation, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of the impossible. It’s the legacy.

And that’s a story worth running for.

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“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3-4

Andrew Frizzell | Iron Will Weight Loss