One day, in Asgard, the realms of the gods, Odin sat upon his throne contemplating the meaning of all. He had seen rune symbols engraved in the base of Yggdrasil, the world tree. He had pondered them for a long time, but today it was time to bring forth their wisdom.
So he left his throne and began his journey to meet the Norns, the weavers of mens fate, and seek the truth and wisdom of these symbols.
He would need to travel to the Well of Wyrd at the base of Yggdrasil. He knew that he would not obtain anything without offering a payment through sacrifice. The ritual of this sacrifice in Norse mythology was threefold death, by hanging (or strangulation or falling from a tree), wounding, and by drowning.
And so, committed to his plight, he reached the Well of Wyrd seeking the knowledge. He hung himself upside down from the tree and pierced his side with his spear, Gungnir. After nine days and nine nights, the wisdom finally revealed itself to him.
With this knowledge he returned from the Well and gave it out to a select few humans to be dispursed. That has led to this point and to your connection with the Runes.