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Posts tagged ‘running’

Sep 10

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12561

“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” – Napoleon Hill

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” – Pope John XXIII

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” – Pope John XXIII

My race packet for the Twin Cities Marathon came in the mail yesterday – 12561 – my race number. Reality – three weeks away from the marathon. Numbers start running through my head…

  • 18 weeks of training
  • 3 pairs of shoes
  • 523 miles to get to the 26.2 miles start line
  • 60 hour work weeks
  • 95 degree runs
  • 48 years old
  • 20 miler this weekend – the last long run before “game” day

If I would have added those numbers up before I started, I may not have started. The bottom line – I’ve gotten from week 1 to week 18, one run, one mile at a time. Running when I didn’t feel like it. Starting at 5:30 am on Saturday mornings.

We achieve our “marathons” in life one day at a time, doing the work, staying the course with discipline, visualizing the finish line, carried through by prayers and the support of friends and family. It all adds up. And when we not only to dare to dream big, but we dare to do the work over and over again, we’ve won the race before we started. I won’t be the fastest, but I’m going the distance. 12561 – there’s a lot behind that number.

Jun 26

8 Comments

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

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.

Nov 13

4 Comments

Lost and Found Smile

“Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts.” – Paramahansa Yogananda

“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.” - Dr. Seuss

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

THE Sole Sisters rode again for our annual “run a half marathon by the ocean” vacation. This year’s mini-escape – Malibu, California. The subtitle could be the “find your lost smile” excursion. Mission accomplished. Vacation breaks our daily patterns, whacking us in the head to wake up and enjoy this short life. The trick is to carry the vacation calm forward. It’s not about a permanent escape, but living each non-vacation day with that same joy and enthusiasm.

Carve out time each day, week, month to stay fresh and engaged, despite the odds. Laugh about silly things until your stomach hurts, taking yourself much less seriously. Eat food that looks like art with a sunset as your backdrop. Smile from your heart and soul, giving your mind a rest. See the good in all, even when not evident or rational. Go deeper, walk lighter.

Slow down and listen to your internal GPS, which like our GPS in our rental car told us several times to “recalculate.” Take the long cut and enjoy the journey, living to your fullest potential, giving your best. Smile like you mean it.

“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” – Mother Teresa

Aug 13

6 Comments

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.

Jun 23

7 Comments

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.

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