HOW I STUMBLED INTO RUNNING...

AND MANAGED TO STAY UPRIGHT

I wasn’t always a runner. In fact, I didn’t start running until I was 34 years old. I had just finished my MBA and was carrying a few extra pounds. There’s nothing worse than that feeling of sluggishness and realizing that not all of your pants actually fit you anymore! And then a client of mine was diagnosed with Type ll Diabetes. The combination of the two really started me thinking about my own health and how I might improve my situation.

So, one day I just laced up a pair of my very old and worn sneakers (which I had NEVER used to run in before) and started jogging. I had never actually run for “fun” before. I had played soccer all through childhood and always considered myself athletic, but the only experience I had in running without dribbling a ball was when I got called out in gym class for talking too much. So given that running was originally introduced to me as a punishment, it’s no wonder I didn’t see it as a hobby worth pursuing.

Flash forward twenty years and here I was huffing and puffing around the block in cruddy sneakers with no treads, no watch, no headphones. Just running. There were times I had to stop and walk. Catch my breath. Curse myself for being silly enough for engaging in this “running business”. But when I returned home, I felt so darn good about myself! “Go Mere! You went for a run and now your body feels tired (but happy) and your mind feels clearer and more centered than when you started”. So, the day after I laced up again. And in a couple days again. You can see where this is going. I ran the same course every time, always with no watch, no headphones. I listened to my own breathing, my footfall, the birds, cars, people talking in driveways.

After a couple of weeks I decided to drive my car around the same course and see how far I had been running. I was certain I had been doing about 5K (3 miles) and was so proud that between the first run and my most recent I was able to do it without stopping. I reset the Odometer and shifted into Drive. This was my moment! Until it wasn’t. I had been running a course that was little over a mile. Womp womp. Man, I was disappointed. On a brighter note, I had actually been able to slip on a pair of pants that had been shoved up to the top of my closet for the past 3 years. Victory(ish)! But here’s the important part. I didn’t swap out the pants I had retrieved from the farthest reaches of my closet with my sneakers. Instead, I went shopping and invested in a good pair of running shoes.

And so now I am a runner. And I am unabashedly in love with running. I love that I feel free when I run. I love that my body looks better, but most importantly FEELS better. I love the running community. Honestly, is there any other situation where you might find yourself running in the dark and encountering a stranger hurtling towards you wearing a head lamp, where instead of reaching for your emergency beacon you smile, wave enthusiastically, and shout “Good Morning!”? I love watching other people run. I love thinking about the satisfaction they’ll feel when they return home, take a big swig of water, and think, “I did it”.

So here I am 11 years after my first real “run”. There have been many, many 5k’s, 10k’s, Half Marathons, and even a handful of Marathons thrown into the mix. And while my own running journey continues, I am now as equally interested in other people’s running journeys. I have learned so many things about running and racing. I have made alllll the mistakes, and have actually done a few things right along the way as well! And here is where For The Run Of It comes in. I am passionate about helping people achieve their running goals. Whether the objective is to run/walk a 5k, improve time on a 10k, or to finally tackle a Marathon, I want to help. Not every run Is going to be an amazing, filled with rainbows and unicorns moment, but the overall journey and experience should ALWAYS be fun, meaningful, and fulfilling. Because the journey is always more important than the destination. And I would be honored to be your guide.

Contact For The Run Of It for more information on having your BEST RUN EVER!

#running #runningcityusa #marathontraining #fortherunofitcoaching