I had just accepted a job out of college that required sitting behind a desk for 40 hours a week. That’s a lot of sitting.

    I knew it was either time to start exercising or I’d start packing on the weight because, you know, those doughnuts aren’t going to burn themselves off.

     Running seemed the easiest — note: not pain free — solution. That’s a unique beauty to jogging. It’s a hobby anyone can start, and other than a decent pair of shoes, I haven’t had to spend a dime.

     The route hasn’t been an easy one, and for that matter, neither has running.

     I can run more today than ever before, but as the miles build up, there’s always an invisible force pushing back, urging me to stop.

     It’s a sport where the disciplined thrive, the sacrifices are daily and one can only rely on themselves.

     I grew up playing sports, but the first time I ever strapped on a pair of athletic shoes to go running as a work out, I was 23 years old.

     It wasn’t a new ambition or a post New Year’s proclamation to get in shape. I didn’t have a goal to run the Boston Marathon, or ever run competitively.

     I wasn’t fulfilling a lifelong desire to run. I had never driven past a jogger while in my comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle and wished I was out on the road with the wind in my hair beside them.

     It wasn’t that I envied runner’s physic because many, especially the good ones, appear gaunt in contrast to most of America. Will somebody please feed them a doughnut?

     And I suppose I’d never considered running much of a past time because of my own background. I grew up on a cattle ranch and lived nowhere close to what most might consider a jogging trail.

     Plus, I have never met a  rancher who squeezed in a quick run before checking on the heifers calving or went for a light jog after baling the alfalfa.

     When I did strap on a pair of running shoes and began to rhythmically place one foot in front of the other; however, I had my own motivations.

     I simply didn’t want to pack on the pounds, because you know, those doughnuts aren’t going to burn  themselves off.

     Since that fateful first day -  two miles in 20 minutes, I’ve slowly built my stamina, speed and mileage.

     It’s been a slow process, but I’m in it for the long term and there’s no rush. My running story is small and insignificant, but it’s just a start to a weekly running feature as part of our new Outdoors section.

    In this space every week, we will feature a runner, event or anything that’s part of the runners’ universe

     I hope together we can get to know some of Pocatello’s local runners from the community, nearby highschools and Idaho State University.

     While exploring the runner’s accomplishments in the sport, we can learn about their own experiences, motivations and trials.