16 Miles

I am officially at the point in my training where I’m running distances I’ve never run before.  This past weekend was sixteen miles.  Sixteen miles.  Alone.  No Andy a few feet {miles} in front of me.  Just me, my thoughts, a little Lady Antebellum mixed with Cee Lo Green on the iPod and laps around a familiar park.

Sometimes I hesitate to write about running because it seems that all of the metaphors were emphasized long before I picked up a pencil, a pair of running shoes or pounded on a keyboard.  But the beauty of running is that it’s all about the relationship you have with yourself.  When you get past the familiar distances - whether that is one mile or twenty - it’s time to listen to your mind, body and heart on how to fuel yourself and when to take a break.

I am currently struggling with the concept of motivation.  I have long been a self-motivated individual – ever since a teacher could check that pre-determined description on a report card and declare it so.  But at some point {typically around mile 12 in this metaphor} self-motivation isn’t enough.  So, I have been focusing on the outside factors that motivate me and have started compiling a list of what I am running for during each mile of the marathon. 

I think this is a good exercise {how’s that pun?} for me because it makes me realize that I am actually never running alone.  I am always running with someone.  Whether that someone is a friend who I know is running miles away but at the exact same time that I am, a sister who always stops to check in with me and really wants to know how my run went or a particularly concerning issue or relationship close to me.  These are the people and things that motivate me on my runs and in my life. 

But these people are especially inspiring when they "pin" things like this in my honor...

Ok, someone knows me well!