Today I was once again amazed that someone else is impressed with what I'm doing... I still feel like running is challenging everyday and that I'm too slow, I think it's easier to forget how far you've come when you're focused on how far you have left to go.
When I started running a little over 3 years ago, I started slow and I took lots of breaks, everybody has to start somewhere right? I worked my way up and I ran my first half in a little over two and a half hours and I thought that was A-MAZING because it was for me at the time. Things have changed now, that was my FIRST, it would have been amazing so long as I finished.
10 half marathons later... I am fighting for a sub 2:15 half time. It's only 15 minutes right, but every minute I've shaved off is a result of hours and hours and kilometers and kilometers of running. Every time I hear about or read a blog about someone beginning their running and/or fitness journey, I am impressed and inspired. That first part is the hardest, convincing yourself that one day you will BE better and BE stronger, because you will. Even after I had my son and had to start running all over again, it was hard but it wasn't as hard as the first time because I'd already crossed that finish line, I knew I could and would do it again.
As I embark on my 11th half marathon this Sunday I will be thinking not only about the 13 more half marathons I will be running this year but about THE MARATHON. The first one, I haven't confirmed which one that will be just yet, but every kilometer I run these days I think about how I am going to run 42.2 of them, all at once! The thing is at this point I know I can, and once I run that, where's the limit? Is there one or is there an Ultra in my future? If you want to learn more about an Ultra Marathon, my good friend Nikki from Slow is the New Fast is running her first Ultra Marathon this May.
Obviously there are a lot Olympians and pros out there that inspire us all breaking records and winning races but the people that inspire me on a daily basis are those that are just starting to run, making that decision to get up and go no matter the distance or how slow/fast you may be, you CAN inspire others.
What inspires you?
I'm like you, I think ordinary people starting to run inspire me the most because that's how I started and I remember how good it felt to have someone say "Wow, you inspire me". It's an awesome, humbling thing and I love the fact that we all inspire each other.
ReplyDeleteMy younger sister inspired me.....she'd been running for years and I was always secretly jealous of this. She was single, no kids so had lots of her "own" time to run, whereas I had three little kids that took up all my spare time. Finally , once the kids were older, my sister talked me into a 3 K fun run. I did it, thought it would kill me, but did it. After that , it was a 5 k here, a 10 K there, and then finally a half marathon! Fast forward to 8 years later, I can proudly say I am a runner. I've done dozens of races in that time, most of them with my sister. I am leaner, stronger and can now say I am an athlete. so not only has it been a great bonding experience for us, the personal rewards are pretty awesome too! So thank you, Marilyn!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful.
DeleteI'm inspired by other runners! The Olympians, professionals and everyday runners like me! When I'm driving and see a runner it always makes me want to go for a run :)
ReplyDeleteHa when I see other runners while I'm driving I always want to roll down my window and cheer them on but then I think they'll think I'm crazy lol.
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