When I joined a running group, I entered a whole new dimension in running. I had run on my own for so long, I think I forgot what it was like to run with like-minded people.
Starting out as a kid, I ran with my dad. Just the two of us. It was our special time together, and we would talk about everything. Fast forward to high school and college, when my schedule got busy, and I found myself running alone. I guess I got used to it.
Fast forward again, this time a couple of decades. After I became a mom, my world contracted into itself and I lost contact with many of my friends. We had kids, we had jobs, we got busy. Running alone was often the only option I had, since it was usually on the spur of the moment. Time was spent worrying about everyone else instead of me. Sound familiar? Motherhood; we often forget to take of ourselves and we put our hopes and dreams from young adulthood on the back burner.
As the kids got a little older and started preschool and grade school, my world began to expand again, and I met other mom-runners. I got invited to run with MRTT and experienced my first group run. WOW. Total game-changer for me. I got introduced to so many moms that had so many dreams! It was, and still is, fantastic.
For those of who are reading this and wondering what MRTT is, it stands for Moms Run This Town. There is also SRTT (same idea, but She Runs This Town, for all of our female running buddies that don’t have kids). Basically, it’s a group of moms that support each other and our love for running. You may have seen the magnets around town on various minivans and SUV’s.
As I got to know more moms, I realized how much we all had in common. We would meet and instantly have a connection with one another.
There were veteran runners, for sure, but there were also new runners that were just beginning their journey. A lot of the newer runners really awakened my perspectives on running and being part of a community. A hot topic with a lot of these moms is what they want to try next.
Hence, the topic of this blog. I was getting motivated by these women and by the discussions that were happening in the group. I started to ask myself, “ What do I want to try next”? What would I do if I knew I wouldn’t fail? I hadn’t had this mindset for so many years, it took a while to sink in and take root.
Have YOU ever sat down and asked yourself this question? I mean REALLY thought about it? Not just from a running perspective, but with life itself? Warning: it causes a major transformation!
Some of the moms I’ve met are just beginning and have their eyes on running their first 5k. Some moms are looking for a little motivation to try a longer race, or maybe their first marathon. Others are just out there running for the companionship and don’t necessarily want to race. Someone just whispering in their ear “you can do it” is all it takes. Some moms want to try trail running for the first time, which usually starts a new love affair with getting lost on the trails.
I have heard some moms talking about branching out into duathlon, triathlon, ultramarathons, and mud runs. It’s fantastic what you can attempt when you take the perspective that failure just is NOT an option. Failure simply doesn’t exist. Period. And then to have a whole cheerleading squad in your corner telling you “Yes, you can!“
So, stop what you’re doing and sit down with a pencil and paper. Write it down. What WOULD you do if you knew you could not fail? It doesn’t have to be right now, what about in the next 6 months or year? It might sound a little outlandish, a little crazy, but so what!
What’s holding you back? Is it something you can change? Or is it just an excuse? Think of all of the possibilities out there for you! Open up your mind and dream big.
So … What is your goal? What did you come up with?
Then get out there and do it!!!!
Run Happy, friends.
Running Truths 