My Motivation to Run
Lore Bilbao just completed “busy season” as an intern in WithumSmith+Brown’s Morristown Office. Lore is a senior at Fairleigh Dickinson University and was one of only two interns to sign up for our Withum 300 program. Here, she shares her story of what drove her to start running and how she stays motivated.
When I first received the e-mail about the Withum 300 challenge, there was no doubt in my mind that I had to join it. Running and for a good cause – it’s really a no brainer. To me, running is something I do not only for my physical well-being, but also for my mental well-being.
I originally got into running when I was a sophomore in high school. To be completely honest, I wasn’t happy with the way I looked and I decided it was time for a change. Once I put my effort and determination into something, I know it can be done, so I made a plan and stuck to it. Over time, I lost thirty pounds and I was more comfortable after seeing these results.
Going to the gym is always half the struggle. Once I’m there, I want to be there and give it my all in order to get the most out of a workout. It also helps me 
mentally; if I’m having a bad day, sometimes I just want to run it out to release stress and clear my mind. I can also consider it a hobby since it is something I do in my free time and enjoy doing.
The key to being successful, in anything really, is finding your motivation and passion and keeping it alive. I would say don’t consider running an ever dreaded task, but rather consider it as self-betterment. Most importantly, do it only for yourself and your own well-being. Make it fun, run inside and outside to switch it up. It may sound silly, but for me wearing fun clothes sometimes keeps me going.
Although I have never participated in a race or marathon, I can definitely see myself doing it in the future. I’m still just a beginner though, so, for now, I think I’ll stick to my runs on the treadmill, or across campus taking the scenic route. As the weather gets nicer, I find it easier to get up and moving. So with that, find something that motivates you and stay active my friends!
