Favorite Memories, via the blog

My life embarked on a fulfilling journey when I became a runner.

And, my world took an interesting turn when I became a blogger.

Blogging has been a fun, time-consuming, scary and oh-so-rewarding experience. Not only has it been a great way to network with fellow runners, but it's been an archive of some significant running memories and milestones.

We all go through difficult times in our personal and professional lives, and running is no exception. Often times, I have turned to my own archived blog posts to renew my spirit and enthusiasm for the sport, as well as my confidence. Let's face it...it's not usually our abilities that falter, but our faith in them that does.

Sometimes we need a boost of our own mojo. Taking a stroll down Memory Lane, and rereading older blog posts, helps to keep me in the game. Here are a few of my favorites:  

First off, the recap of my first marathon, the 2013 Quad Cities Marathon...26.2 done? Check YES! Coming from a pretty un-athletic background, running was never on my radar, let alone running a marathon. This race recap reminds me that anything is possible. And, re-living that perfect race day always brightens the dreariest of any days I may be experiencing.

Injuries are frustrating, and can really be defeating to our mental game. In 2017, I spent three months sidelined from my running shoes. Facing an extended sabbatical from all things running, I was blessed (many times over) with support and ongoing encouragement from fellow runners. One of my initial blog posts during the start of that journey, Plot Twist!, includes beautiful sentiments from my network. It's like reading through a huge stack of greeting cards, what's not to love?

Another favorite blog post is pretty recent (April 2019). As mentioned, growing up, I was anything but athletic. I hated running, and I never (ever!) had any kind of natural speed or finesse. Well, as my love of running grew, so did my willingness to step out of my comfort zone. In 2018, I ran the Grand Blue Mile for the first time, and was shocked to clock a sub-8 mile (7:53). I returned in 2019, eager to give that mile another go, and (hopefully) better my finish time. Running fast and hard is tough, especially for someone who is more gifted with endurance. All I knew, as I was running, was that I was horribly thirsty and my lungs were on fire....but I was able to knock another 30 seconds of my 1-mile finish time. My 7:23 mile landed me with a 4th place AG finish (out of 73 "old gals" LOL) in 2019.  Reminiscing about that exciting race, the Grand Blue Mile 2019, affirms that comfort zones do us no good, and we're better off spending our time elsewhere.  

I've mentioned my network of fellow runners (many of whom are bloggers). In 2018, several of said runners/bloggers met in Chicago for the Rock 'n Roll weekend. Many of us ran the 5K on Saturday, and then we had the 10K or the half marathon on Sunday. The running was great, but even better was the camaraderie of  being with these gals for the better part of the weekend. This Chicago R'nR ReMix  blog post always warms my heart as I relive that fun time in the windy city.

Finally, over the past 15+ years of running, I've made a lot of mistakes, but have learned many valuable lessons in the process. Running is a very personal endeavor for each person who dons a pair of running shoes and hits the street (or treadmill). No two of us do it the same way, have the same goals or enjoy the same aspects of our sport. And, that's the way it should be. This post, Running - Doing It My Way, reminds me I'm doing this running gig just the way I should be.

I'm glad I found running, and I'm really grateful I have blogging to document all the memories. The two of them are a perfect pair.

And you? Has running been an important part of your life as well? Any specific lessons learned that have shaped your entire running experience? Do you ever revisit old blog posts?

I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up

I'm also linking with Debbie, Deborah, Lisa, Laura and Jenn for the Runners' Roundup

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