I got to the gym a bit late this morning so I on was able to fit in 9 miles in 55 minutes. 1 mile easy, 7.5 mile MP progression, 0.5M VO2Max (4:30) to finish off the run. (Kinvara)
5 miles at lunch in 39:36. Ran really easy with Dan and had some good conversation on this overcast, blustery but pretty warm day. (TSD5)
As I reflect upon what running has meant to me or brought to my life in the past 6 years, I have a lot to be thankful for which through God’s blessing I would otherwise have not been able to experience.
Strength through Faith: I am thankful to God for giving me the strength to keep training and competing. I know that without Him, none of this would have been possible. I thank God for leading me to discover this skill and leading me to the running community at a time in my life when I really needed it.
Friendships: I have made new friends from coast to coast, from the east coast (Sergio, Mark, Dorothy, Mike W, John P., Bret, etc.) to the central US (Jim F, David, etc.) to all my friend’s in Utah (too many to name) to the west coast (Janet, etc.) and so many others! The running community is so very supportive and motivating that I could not imagine my life now without this fantastic group of people! I think that my best friends in my life now are centered on my passion for running.
Challenges and perseverance: When work life was tough to stomach and I was having trouble finding meaning and purpose, running provided me the opportunity to set and accomplish a goal, maintain focus on accomplishing something and overcoming the challenges and barriers that try to get in your way. From this inward strength and perseverance, I have been able to be more focused and stronger in other aspects of my life.
Mentoring and Leadership: From the focus that I mention above, I have been able to use the lessons of running to apply to mentoring others and leading activities and people in other areas of my life (church, work) in addition to trying to give back knowledge to other runners. From this effort, I have been able to forge and strengthen the friendships I mentioned above.
Travel experiences: Through running, my family and I have been able to experience many places in the United States that we may or may not have thought of traveling to and spending time: Boston, Minneapolis, Virginia Beach, Indianapolis, Annapolis, Orlando, Phoenix, and all over Utah! I hope to continue this broadening of our knowledge of our country (and perhaps the greater world in the future).
Physical well being: My physical fitness has dramatically improved since I started running to help offset known risk factors in my family. I had previously been fit, but not at this level and not doing it in a way that was to be sustainable (mostly from a time commitment) due to family and work time commitments (tennis was only practical at night when I was committed to family activities).
Financial reward: Who would have thought that a 40-something old guy who be able to gain sponsorships from large corporations to help support his running passion!
To sum up what running has meant to me is to say that I have grown as a person in my faith, my physical well being, my friendships and support structure (to me and to others) and my ability to focus on important things and overcome challenges. I truly believe that I am a better person for having be led to running as a passion of my spirit.
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