As the winds blow colder and leaves begin to change color in an outburst of red and yellow, many Bronx Science students exit the school building, knowing they can get some rest on their commute back home. However, members of the Bronx Science Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Cross Country teams gather in front of the school, ready to cover miles upon miles through park trails and back. Despite enduring hours of academic studies, they have reserves for a sport which demands almost everything they can give, and so off they go, disappearing into the trees. 

In full view, a runner’s dedication is unmistakable: who in their right mind would voluntarily endure such physical and mental suffering? Of course, only the committed would do so. Oftentimes, this strong sentiment is perceived one-sidedly by those unfamiliar with running. They inevitably question the purpose of it all, with their curiosity boiling down to this one question: ‘What is it exactly that drives these individuals to run for such grueling, endless distances?’

There is no simple answer. It can range from maintaining physical health, to refining one’s mental framework, to appreciating the social benefit,s to simply enjoying the act of running. Perhaps, it can be all of the above.  But whatever it may be, there always is a reason. 

Robert Pang ’24, a member of the Bronx Science Boys’ Varsity Cross Country team, “runs mainly for health,” a common motivator for many runners. More than that, Pang sees running as a medium of physical conditioning, polishing his strength and endurance for the sake of performing well in a variety of other sports, such as basketball, a favorite of his. 

Similarly, Kun Hyung Roh ’24, another member of the Bronx Science Boys’ Varsity Cross Country team, is attracted to the sport of running because it fosters self-nourishment and self-development. “I run to build confidence and discipline,” Roh said. “Before running, I was a very timid person who wasn’t even able to talk properly in front of others. As I started running, I gained vigor and a mindset that completely changed myself into a confident person who loves to meet new people, embrace novelty, and partake in various social activities.” 

Expanding beyond the domain of physical fitness, running provides mental reinforcement and strength, helping to build a more courageous mindset in its participants. “The effects of running stretch beyond the realm of mere physical health; it fosters confidence, discipline, and maturity in oneself,” Roh said. As one can see, the consequences are but rewards to runners for enduring extended periods of physicality — running is not all about suffering! 

Despite the benefits of running being well-known and acknowledged, there still remains a number of those who are ambiguous towards the joy of running. They do not fully understand a runner’s choice to walk down the figurative path of thorns and broken glass. In the case of Roh, he acknowledges their perspective, though he maintains that “there is so much more to the sport than what people ostensibly perceive. The discomfort itself is what makes running special — one learns how to embrace hardships encountered along a run, just like any obstacles in life.” Pang concurs with Roh’s sentiments, and further elaborates the connection between running and living. He suggests that the two are the two sides of the same coin — just like there is a story to life, there is a story to one’s running journey, a roller coaster of ups and downs, of pain and pleasure, of failures and accomplishments. 

In every runner’s journey, they strive for a common goal — to enjoy and improve, and improve to enjoy. By establishing these goals, they have something to strive towards, something they are passionate about, and in the process, they learn how to endure and build an identity for themselves. This sense of maturing and discovery is another primary factor in what drives people to run long distances, as it gives purpose to the sacrifices and effort they tirelessly invest into the process. They realize the physical and mental agony they face are the ingredients for a masterful dish of personal realization and growth. 

While running is a means for self-improvement, it also provides opportunities for bonding, an underrated source of motivation. With the presence of fellow runners, running turns into a more pleasurable experience as the pain becomes all more tolerable and is no longer a primary focus. Dr. M. Blair Evans, an Assistant Professor of Penn University, notes that running can also be an important source of emotional stability as, he writes, “among the participants reporting recent major life events, 56% indicated that the running community helped them to cope with these challenging life circumstances.” 

With such raw experiences and sentiments poured into the sport, it is no wonder why many choose to run. Kun Hyung Roh expresses that even after he graduates from the Bronx Science Boys’ Varsity Cross Country team in several years, long-distance running will continue to be an integral part of his life, a source of inspiration and achievement he will never forget nor abandon. 

So the next time a runner passes by, try to keep in mind that a trove of personal reasons and ambitions resides in their heart and fuels their every stride — the first, the second, the third, the last. 

With such raw experiences and sentiments poured into the sport, it is no wonder why many choose to run. Kun Hyung Roh expresses that even after he graduates from the Bronx Science Boys’ Varsity Cross Country team in several years, long-distance running will continue to be an integral part of his life, a source of inspiration and achievement he will never forget nor abandon.