Wanting to Run or Needing to Run

I am as one might expect the atypical personality of a runner.  I had a job where I traveled every week to see clients and because of that I was always in an airport or hotel.  About 4 years ago I allowed my weight to balloon up to around 350lbs.  It was at this point that I decided to exercise and eat better.  Initially, within the first month I lost about 50 lbs and then things slowed down.  I began running on the treadmill and I got the funniest looks from people (if you have ever seen a 300 lb man run you would understand).  I devised my own plan for losing weight and it primarily was protein shakes and nothing else.

Within 90 days  I had lost 100 more lbs and was able to run much quicker and more efficiently.  Over the course of the next 60 days or so I dropped to 160 lbs where I stayed for a long time.  There were periods where I would gain 10 -15  lbs and then lose it again (primarily the winter months where I couldnt run outside as much as I wanted to).  Each week I begin by looking at what I need to accomplish and think to myself what I did to lose that weight.  I will be honest in saying that it was easier for me to lose the weight then others, maybe a genetic abnormality. 

I run each day because I both want to run and need to run.  I hear runners talking about this so called runners high which I have never been exposed too.  I feel like I've accomplished something when I'm done with my run and therefore it is important for me to start my day with a minimum of 5 miles.  I am living proof that you can be a reformed fat guy turned runner.