Indescribable Feeling

In case you haven't figured it out from previous writings, I'm addicted to running, and I love it. It's hard for me to describe exactly why. The relaxing calm and freedom, the meditative state, the physical benefits, and hearing the wind whistle in my ears and my shoes softly striking the ground all reinforce the addiction--the endorphines help a bit, too.
In the natural progression of my running, I recently completed my first marathon, and it was awesome. The heady, intoxicating feeling after crossing the finish line is truly indescribable, very similar to the feeling of completing my first half-marathon, except stronger--remembering the event still gives me a tingle up my spine. The only way to know what I mean is to experience the feeling for yourself.
I recommend running, or any aerobic exercise, to everyone as a great way to relieve stress, get in shape, and just generally feel better. Even if you aren't able to run very long to start with, give it a try, keep at it, and you will improve.
When you do start running (notice, I say when, not if), do it right:
1) Buy good shoes. Go to a running specialty store and ask one of the experts for help. They should look at your feet, stance, and maybe even watch you run a few strides. The mall is not the place to look--Foot Locker and the like--and do not go to Wal-Mart. Also, be sure to replace your shoes every 300-400 miles.
2) Take it easy. This is good running advice for beginners, not just a good song by The Eagles. Keep in mind that nobody starts off in the elite/olympiad class. Do what you can and focus on improvement. It's helpful in the beginning to ignore the distance and try to increase the duration. Try alternating walking and running for 30 minutes until you feel comfortable running the entire half hour.
3) Listen to your body. There is a difference between soreness caused by exercising a muscle and actual pain caused by injury. I use the two-day rule: if it hurts for more than two days and you haven't exerted excessive effort (such as running a race), get it checked out or at least conduct a self-diagnosis.
4) Stretch! After each run, be sure to treat your legs to a good stretch session and include the hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, glutes, inner thigh, and abdominals. There are several methods for stretching--the most basic is to hold each stretch for 30-60 seconds.
4) Keep a journal. A journal is a very useful tool to keep track of how you feel, how far you run, and any pains you might have. It allows you to look back and see how you have progressed and to plan your future training plan.
5) Enjoy it! Have fun! I know it may sound strange, but running really is very liberating and enjoyable. If you can find a good partner to run with, it makes it more fun for both of you. When you feel ready, sign up for a local 5k or 10k race, and don't be discouraged because you don't think you'll finish in a "good time;" just try to have a good time and don't worry about where you place. Use races to gage your progress and meet others who share the passion of running.

Everyone can benefit from running, and it isn't harmful when done right. If you want more information, check out runnersworld.com--they have a section about training for beginners. I strongly encourage everyone to at least give it a chance and maybe even set a goal, such as to run a half-marathon in a year (I think that anyone without a physical handicap can train to run a half-marathon in a year--DisneyWorld is hosting one on January 6, 2007. I'm looking at you, Marie).