"Running"

I remember the first time I took a jog.  I went running on the beach with my dad when I was about 10 years old, and unlike the running I did as a kid, during a water gun fight, or a Nerf war, or playing baseball or football, this was a different kind of experience.  We went running for the sake of running.  The only thing gained from such an activity was the bi-products of a work out: burning of calories and fat, building of endurance, and increasing muscle mass.  Despite the many positive attributes, I recall feeling a certain level of disdain for running because the results were not immediate.  In a game like football, there is a winning side, a memory made, bragging rights, and tangible victory.  Running for the sake of the work out is a relative letdown.  However, the long term results of any kind of working out far surpasses the immediate satisfaction of a game.  The body is being prepared for something greater.  The daily routine yields not only a gradual change of physique, but also a noticeable change in character.  I now run for pleasure and integrity of self, no longer dreading the exhaust, but embracing the eventual benefits.  Maturity is grounded in the responsibility of preparation.  Working out prepares us for the many tasks and challenges we have yet to face.  Being stronger allows us to confidently defend the weak.  Being physically capable allows us to confidently protect those around us.  As men, working out ultimately allows us to be men.  It is the surplus ammo we keep for the moments we hope never happen.

Advice:  The next time you take a jog, imagine yourself pursuing someone who stole your girlfriends purse.  Imagine yourself running away from militant socialists taking over your city, and survival means you have another day to plan your rogue retaliation.  Imagine yourself running into battle, facing your enemies as men have done for centuries before us.