So many running stories start with someone saying they took it up to try to lose weight. This is absolutely a noble goal, but as every runner discovers, running does so much more for your life, body, and outlook than just reducing the number on the scale. There's also a tendency to stereotype what is and isn't a runner's body, and that only thin people can be real runners. This is so far from the truth. If you run, you're a runner. Period. Whether you're a size 24 or a size 4, if you run, you have a runner's body. End of story. 

In honor of Global Running Day today, I'm giving you 10 reasons running is awesome that have nothing to do with losing weight or chasing some arbitrary ideal. We are all runners, so go run!