
I used to be embarassed to tell my time unless it was a PR or so. But now, I am happy to proclaim that I am a mid-packer and happy to be one.
I like being able to enjoy the runs, to take pictures, to make new running friends, to recount the excitement of races as if I won first place - just because I finished!
I love that my heart is in it, but after throwing out numbers for the past two half-marathons, I feel as if a weight has been lifted. I now realize that I run for fun and fitness, not so much competition. Afterall the only person I plan on beating - is myself.

But that was because I thought that walkers/runners are only atheletes and should only be out there if they could run sub-10's. Me being a habitual 12:00 runner felt out of place. I felt out of time.
I started to avoid races with smaller fields, because I enjoyed knowing that there was someone behind me!
I sort of dreaded my TNT training runs because I was the slowest one out there, so I opted to run with my running partner instead. In the end this solidified our running friendship, but I fostered my fear of being myself on the run.

Now I get to tell the stories of my runs over dinners of carbs and wine - and I find cool ways of rewarding myself for finishing the feat at hand, regardless of what place I did it in. I still did it - what does it matter if it took me 3 hours or 1? The finish is still as sweet, is it not?
So next time you feel like the last place runner or walker - remember that you did something most people will not - you put one foot down then the other, and you started. It is now up to you to finish.
I now run for wine... not time. And I like it better this way!
3 comments:
Wow, that was truly an inspiring post. Can I link to this post for my TNT team, I think it could touch a few of them? I think you're getting the reason a lot of us continue to put that one foot in front of the other. Great job!
Bravo. Excellent Post. I, too, run for the cheer joy of it. The time only matters if you are finishing in the top 10 or are comparing to your pace races.
And the comments supportive spectators make to the back and the middle of the packers starts long before with the 3 hour finishers. Most spectators don't know or care who's finishing when. They just want to be supportive.
Great post and well said.
Pat
Arizona, USA
Awesome post, Jenn! I used to be that slow runner, but I have put in all of the work to get much faster. It helps to stick to a good training schedule too.
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