Hard things

I have this running issue. I won't go into details because, well, it's the internet and there is such thing as TMI! I will say that if I run an hour or more my tummy gets real upset with me. There were other related problems that led me to seek the advise of a Dr. After visiting with him he decided that he knew what would fix it. So the procedure was done and my symptoms were still there. I returned to the same Dr. and he was baffled. He was certain he had fixed the problem and said, "why don't you choose another form of exercise?" I smiled politely and proceeded to tell him how I thought the problem should be handled. He wished me good luck and said to come back and see him if it didn't work. What I failed to tell the Dr. was that running wasn't just my form of exercise, it was so much more.

I recently read this post and as I was reading remembered a post my sister wrote. I often wonder if I have the running "gift". In fact, I asked my sister why it seems so easy for some people, and others work so hard. Is it genetics, hard work and determination, no fear? It may be a combination of all of that. When I was a kid I thought I was runner, and knew I could out race half the girls in my neighborhood. In fact, one day I raced my best friend across her back yard. When I reached the other end of the yard I couldn't stop and put my hand through her wooden fence. And yes, I did win that race. In Jr. High, my track coach told me she found my talent in running too late. I was a runner who kept getting faster (probably why I ran through the fence!). I didn't know what to do with that so I stopped running.

I think had I not had these experiences as a child and read these posts I may have taken that Dr.'s advise and quit. But he has no idea how hard I have actually worked, and how much time I've spent working up to 3 miles, 8 miles, and finally 13.1! Both of these blog posts gave me the voice I was searching for. Running is hard! In the first post she challenged readers to finish this sentence, "Running is hard, but I stick with it because..." I thought about why I stick with running and this is what I came up with. "Running is hard, but I stick with it because I CAN DO HARD THINGS!" It's my motto now. I 'm taping it to my mirror and my treadmill, and when my run seems hard I say in my head, "I can do this because I can do hard things!" It may seem cheezy to you, but it has worked for me.

My BIL texted me the other day and said he just ran 3 miles and he didn't know if it was fast or not, but he did it. I thought what would MY coach say to me? So I told him I've learned the hard way that running is an individual sport so if that's your time celebrate it. Running 3 miles it great! He said if he could catch his breath he would!! So for now on I'm going to take my own advise and celebrate each mile I run no matter how fast because running is HARD!

Just a side note from your coach. I know I posted this in the comments but I don't know that our readers always read others comments. I learned something from Sister Dalton, the general Young women's president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saint, she is also a runner and she has even done Boston. Her motto use to be I can do hard things but she changed it to, With the Lord I can do all things! This is my motto and so as your coach I think you should think about changing yours just bit.
Corrine!