Today is National Running Day. I drove to the gym near my office and slogged out 5K on the treadmill in 27 minutes while watching baseball highlights and clips of Rob Ford looking like a fool on the noon news.

It wasn't a particularly far, fast, scenic, or otherwise noteworthy run. It wasn't even all that enjoyable. I mean, it's a treadmill in a gym in an industrial park. It's not like I was running along a Caribbean beach or through the streets of Rome or the Runyon Canyon. I definitely didn't break any records for distance or speed. And I didn't look amazing doing it, unless yellow t-shirts and pink sneakers are your thing.

But the thing about running is that even that most unremarkable, unimpressive of runs? It made my day. I'm back at my desk now feeling clearheaded, refreshed, ready for the afternoon. I feel accomplished - something checked off my to-do list. I added it to my Daily Mile page. Three more miles for the week.

As simple as it seems to put on a pair of sneakers and run - just run - it's something to be thankful for, each and every time, even a clammy 5k on the treadmill at lunch. So many people want to run, but can't. So many people can but don't want to. Being able to run is a wonderful thing.

I'm not exaggerating when I say running has changed my life. It helped me lose 40 pounds. Even though it's the most solitary of sports, it's helped me feel like I'm part of a team, a community. It's my alone time, my time to think, plan, let my mind wander, zone out. It doesn't require any special skill, complicated equipment or expensive memberships - no matter where I am, I can run.