Like many kids, I grew up playing a ton of sports. I always loved being active and staying busy whether that was softball, basketball, dance, riding bikes, you name it. As a high schooler, I played a few sports, but winded up joining the Cross Country and Track & Field teams for my school. I did okay, but wasn't an amazing, exceptional runner by any stretch of the imagination. What's strange about me is I am one of the most competitive people you'll ever meet, but I'm highly motivated by my own goals and my own dreams, not someone else's. I've never thrived in an environment where I needed to perform for anyone or anything else. But, I do think those years of running really set the base for me. I knew what I was capable of doing, and I knew how rewarding running can be, both for the mind and for the body.
As I found myself in college, struggling with the stresses of the "what am I gonna do with the rest of my life" questions, anxieties of a toxic relationship, and just an overwhelming feeling of self doubt, I had to make a change for myself. While one big part of my story is my faith and the work God has done in me to overcome a lot of my anxieties, I also have fitness and running in particular to thank for the person I have transformed into today. It was not very long ago that I made the decision for myself that I needed to get healthy and work on myself. Running was the ticket for me.
As I mentioned, being a natural born competitor has always been a driving force in my life. I set a goal, and then I set a harder one, then I push, and push myself beyond what I thought I could do before. 2020 has been a year of challenge and growth for a lot of reasons. For me, it is the year I completed my first Half Marathon, my first ever Triathlon, and the year I set my sites on Dopey. After Dopey, who knows what I will work towards next!
While I know that running isn't for everyone, I love to encourage others to try it out. Sign up for a 5k, move on to a Half Marathon, try a Tri! Running, and runDisney especially, are extremely addictive. A runner's high is a real thing, and the sense of accomplishment alone after running a race is enough to get you coming back for more. There are a ton of plans to follow, like Couch to 5K or the Run-Walk-Run method, that can turn anyone into a runner. Sometimes friends will say to me "well you like running..." when I try to get them to run a race with me. In case you didn't already know, and I'm not gonna lie, running isn't always fun. Some days and some miles do just suck. But in this life, we are called to do hard things sometimes. And that is what builds character. There truly is no greater feeling than accomplishing something you never thought you could. Stop dreaming, and start doing.
Thanks for reading :)
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