As another school year has begun, my students have again seen me running. Some have spotted me in their neighborhoods after school, while others have seen me on the track in the early morning before the first bell. Several have talked about their shared love of running; more have asked, with a mix of confusion and disgust in their eyes, why I would do such a thing. Here are some of the reasons. I run because running is simple. In an increasingly complex world, there is something beautiful about a pursuit you can do anywhere. All you need is shoes and open space. I run because it relieves stress. On those days when my thoughts swirl around my head like a giant storm cell growing on the horizon - all lightning and rumble - running takes the charge out of the air. It allows me to think more clearly and rationally. Running is my prescription drug: 3-10 miles per day until symptoms subside. I run because Wards Bakery makes an amaz...