So what makes a 45 year-old wife and working mother of 2, step-mother of 4, step-grandmother of 2 decide to run the Prince Edward Island Marathon? I don’t have the time or the energy so… why am I doing this again..?
I started running when I was a teenager. Check out this very cool photo of me circa 1982 in my adidas sweats and Forrest Gump Nikes. And that hair? What’s up with that?! And the goofy look..? Yeah I still have that. Although I’ve been running on and off for 30+ years, I’ve never been particularly great at it. Actually, it’s always been more of a shuffle than a stride. I’d always been a 10k runner until this January when I decided that this was the year I was going to run further and run a half marathon, and I did! It was a great experience. I joined a Running Room clinic and ran all winter for the first time. It was some seriously crazy fun. So now what? I guess I’ll run a marathon since I’m half way there. The fact is, that running is really about so much more than running.
Runner’s High; A feeling, usually unexpected, of exhilaration and well-being directly associated with vigorous running; apparently related to the secretion of endorphins.
(Yeah that. I love that!)
Have you ever felt that ‘Wow’ feeling? That surge of excitement when watching the Hawaiian Ironman, or Boston Marathon, or the Olympics from the comfort of your sofa?! Come on, it can’t just be me. Running a marathon has always kind of been this ultimate thing I would love to do, and if you get really honest, deep deep down, wouldn’t you love to run one too? Wouldn’t you just love to know you ran a marathon?!
• Would you like to run a marathon?
• What’s stopping you?
• What would it take to get you running?
Here are some of my favourite things about running:
Running Buddies
Although I’ve always run alone, I joined a Running Room clinic in January and met some really special people. They taught me that running is about friendship. It became a sisterhood of growth and self-discovery. Here’s a photo of my running buddies at the start of the WR3 Half Marathon in April. On race day we ran back and got our last runner and ran her to the finish line together cheering her on. It was almost as if none of us really finished, until we all finished. I’ll never forget that. I love these women!
Contagious Enthusiasm
My Inspiration? Friendship, love, support and encouragement. I was running the WR3 Half Marathon when I saw my boss and his family holding this sign and cheering me on at the halfway point. Such kindness. I will never forget it.
Normal is Boring
I think really, honestly, deep down I get a high from being one of those crazy people you see out running with a group of fellow crazies in the winter. It’s a fantastic way to meet people and socialize with a bunch of super supportive, positive and happy fellow crazies hyped up on endorphins, it’s really fun. What more could this happiness-junkie ask for? Crazy fun! Woot!
Mental Strength
So much of any sport is mental. Ever teed-up a golf ball and stood there staring down your club at it until you had to back away? Yeah… mental! Running has given me the mental strength to handle anything life throws at me. I have always been a busy right-brainer and battled anxiety. In March my husband was diagnosed with cancer, and underwent surgery. As you can imagine it was a huge scare. But running gave me the strength to handle it, and the outpouring of support from my running buddies, and their encouragement to keep going, was a huge factor in surviving it.
On your mark. Get set. So?
Maybe you’re not there yet. Not ready to go for it. So until you are, why don’t you join me on this crazy adventure and together we’ll learn just what it takes to train for a marathon. It promises to provide you with a lot of opportunities to laugh at my expense. No worries, I’ll be laughing too.
So what does running mean to me?
To me running is about so more than running. It’s about personal strength and friendship. It clears my mind, calms my soul and gives me energy. That’s why I love it and that’s why I run. I’m so happy I get to share my love of running with you, so that we can experience it together and hopefully encourage you to get your shoes on and join me.
What does running mean to you? I’d love to know!
Heather Ogg
Photographer, Designer, Social Media Hound, WordPress Lover, Happiness Bully, Creative Junkie, Runner, Hobby Farmer, Blogger. Not necessarily in that order ; )