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Posts from the ‘Running’ Category

Jun 26

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Finishing Touch

“Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another.” – Thomas Merton

My parents drove up to Duluth early Saturday morning to surprise my brother at the finish of his first marathon. With great anticipation, we waited in the rain for him to turn the final corner. Cameras ready and cow bells ringing, Tina, Emily and I were cheering to get his attention and then pointed out Mom and Dad. John’s mouth dropped and he stopped in his tracks to embrace Dad. Emily brilliantly captured the moment, summing it all up.

Family, friends, love, unwavering support, being there in the rain to celebrate our wins, easing the heavy steps all make the long race possible and meaningful. The finishing touch to the journey well traveled, never alone.

“At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet.” – Plato

“At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet.” – Plato

Jun 25

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Mission Accomplished

“If you raise your children to feel that they can accomplish any goal or task they decide upon, you will have succeeded as a parent and you will have given your children the greatest of all blessings.” – Brian Tracy

“A goal is a dream with a deadline.” – Napoleon Hill

“A goal is a dream with a deadline.” – Napoleon Hill

There’s nothing quite like achieving a personal goal after months of work and effort. Each day, through repetition, consistency and seemingly small steps, the goal becomes real with time and patience.

This past weekend, my brother John finished his first marathon and my niece Emily finished her first half marathon. I’ve done dozens of half marathons and am training this summer for my second marathon in Fall. It was refreshing to see the event through their fresh eyes.

When I was running with Emily, she kept telling me to go ahead. I would have finished earlier but I would have missed the joy of watching her goal unfold to fruition 13.1 miles later. Our victories aren’t always in being first or fast but in showing up, doing the work and finishing. And the victories are always sweeter when shared.

May 5

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Dare

A few months ago, I watched a TED video featuring Brene Brown (http://www.brenebrown.com/) speaking on her years of research on vulnerability, courage, worthiness and shame. I am now reading her book “Daring Greatly”. She starts the book with the following quote from Theodore Roosevelt that is my daily reminder to dare greatly in all that I do – work, play, relationships.

The Man in the Arena, Theodore Roosevelt

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Excerpt from the speech “Citizenship In A Republic  delivered at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France on 23 April, 1910

On Saturday, I ran the “Run & Dye” 5k to support a friend who was running her first 5k – daring something new and different. 8000 people gathering to throw powdered dye at each other – crazy, fun and memorable. What an honor to be invited to be a part of someone’s first event, to share the victory, to be in the arena – dye and all.

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” – Maya Angelou

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” – Maya Angelou

Today, I ran a half marathon with my “Sole Sisters” Jeanne and Linda – a beautiful morning, celebrating the joy of movement, distance and good friends cheering each other to the finish line and to share more time in the “arena”.

As I get older, I choose to surround myself with people who dare me, feed my spirit and who want to be in the arena with me to enjoy life, to try harder despite the odds and to never, never, never give up.

Thanks Suz, Jeanne and Linda for being with me in the arena this weekend daring greatly, enjoying each moment.

Nov 19

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Wait Up

“A good companion shortens the longest road.” – Turkish Proverb

“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.”- James Herriot

“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.”- James Herriot

Every Wednesday and Saturday, Molly, Lily and I run with our running group. Lily and Molly run side by side with not much air between them. If we get ahead of the group, Molly will look back to make sure that they are still close by, not losing sight of her pack.

If Molly’s boyfriend Solomon (a cute yellow lab who doesn’t realize that he’s her boyfriend) is behind, she will sit down on the path and wait for him. When they are neck and neck, she will make her move and give him a kiss on the cheek. Every once in a while, I see him glancing her way so I think he’s playing hard to get.

We run a lot of our “daily race” alone. So as you run your race, focusing on the finish, remember to glance back now and then and wait up for others. Better yet, loop back around and run by their side, celebrating the finish together.

Oct 7

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First Time Again

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” – T. S. Eliot

“No one can possibly know what is about to happen: it is happening, each time, for the first time, for the only time.” – James A. Baldwin

“No one can possibly know what is about to happen: it is happening, each time, for the first time, for the only time.” – James A. Baldwin

The first weekend of October is the Twin Cities Marathon, a tradition. In 2004, the Twin Cities Marathon was my first marathon, so it’s very special to me. This weekend, I ran the 5k on Saturday and the 10 mile on Sunday. Over the past 10 years, I’ve probably done over 100 5k runs, no big deal. It’s become routine. But this weekend, it became new again.

At the 5k, there were thousands of runners of different ages, sizes and walks of life. For many, this was their first 5k. To them, it was a big deal. All of them with their own stories and daily challenges, simply running, achieving a goal. At the 10 mile and marathon events, the runners had the same excitement and enthusiasm as months of hard work paid off in each step moving them to the finish line, crossing over in the victory of finishing. And as we cheered for the them today, I remembered how important the spectators and my friends and family were to me when I ran my first marathon. They carried me and inspired me. And this weekend, I was inspired by those running all of the events – 5k, 10k, 10 mile and marathon – especially those running for the first time.

Run into each day with a “first time again” perpective and be inspired and renewed as the old becomes new again.

Sep 24

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Test Your Mettle

“In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm… in the real world all rests on perseverance.”
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.” – Samuel Johnson

“Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.” – Samuel Johnson

You are stronger than you think. Test your mettle by doing something that challenges you. With hard work, determination, perseverence and enthusiasm, you will pass the test every time.

I participate in half marathons, duathalons and other events to have a goal, stay in shape and to spend time with friends as we cheer each other on.  And it’s not about being the fastest or first, but rather about the preparation, showing up and finishing, especially when it’s hard.

And in starting and finishing, we build depth of character. So when life tests us with challenges outside of our control, we know that we have the strength to get through. We have taken the test and passed.

Aug 13

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Back to School

“I don’t have dry seasons, because I don’t allow them.” – Thomas Perry

Mid-August and the Minnesota State Fair equals “back to school,” even as an adult. Summer’s gift is one of relaxation, restoration and rejuvenation, if you do it right. As Fall approaches, use that fuel to get re-engaged in new endeavors.

In the spirit of engagement, I signed up for the Women Rock Half Marathon on September 1st. Simply setting that goal has focused my training.

Set new goals and stay enthused so “back to school” brings motivation to move you forward to the life you desire and deserve. And remember to carry your calm and cool summer self into Fall.

Jul 24

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A Good Day

“What we call the secret of happiness is no more a secret than our willingness to choose life.”
– Leo Buscaglia

While I enjoy traveling, the ingredients that make up a good day don’t require getting on a plane. The recipe: hanging out at home with the girls, sleeping in without an alarm (except for several kisses on the forehead from Lily and Molly’s nose in my face at 5:30 am), no schedule, no meetings, no email, reading, going out for a long run that’s not rushed, taking a nap (I’ve been up since 5:30 am), a quiet walk at the end of the day.

With the limited number and the distance between vacations, we need to “work” in the good days, good hours, good moments throughout the week. What makes a good day for you? Create your checklist and start checking. And while creating those moments, always remember that we have the power to give “good day” moments to others as well – with a smile, a hug, a kind word.

Your good days are now. Don’t let them pass you by.

“I expect to pass through life but once.  If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.” – William Penn

Jun 23

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Start + Finish = Win

“To finish the moment, to find the journey’s end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Still drying out

Still drying out

I am not the fastest runner. I am not the slowest runner. I run races throughout the year (even in winter) for fun, to participate, to compete with me, to stay in shape.

Today, I ran the William O’Brien 10.5 mile trail run. I am going to rename it the “What was I thinking run?” or “Let’s run on a rollercoater through the woods” run. It seemed like a good idea when I signed up. Starting, never a problem.

Within a half mile, we had to run through a large puddle ankle deep, no way around it. Tentatively tip toeing, as if we could walk on water if we went through gingerly. Soggy wet feet until mile six. Each new corner, another hill – up and down, more up than down. Mentally slicing the run into chunks – mile 7, only a 5k left; mile 9, only 1.5 mile; mile 10, almost there and oh that’s right the unavoidable puddle that didn’t dry up while I was out on running the rollercoaster.

Sprinting the last quarter mile as if I did the entire run, the finish line in sight and an irreplaceable feeling of accomplishment of finishing a challenging journey. Running through the puddles, not around. Forging the hills, running and many times walking. Dodging holes that would break an ankle. All while the birds sang and the rest of nature watched, laughing.

It’s easy to start. The winning comes when we start AND finish – a run, a project, a promise. Start, finish, well done.

Jun 5

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Poetry in the Ordinary

“Breathe-in experience, breathe-out poetry.”  – Muriel Rukeyser

While running a different path in St. Paul, I found poetry stamped into the cement sidewalk. A wonderful way to share poetry in an unexpected and somewhat ordinary place.

The poetry and art of our life can be discovered in the ordinary if we look with new eyes. Found in people, places and our own hearts, all within reach.

Everyday Poem for City Sidewalks, St. Paul, MN

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