Lessons Beyond Running

Last night I arrived in Springfield, Missouri with my sister. My brother drove from Michigan to meet up with us and take us to Branson, Missouri for our grandparents 60th wedding anniversary celebration. Since I knew I would be in Springfield a day before we could check into our place in Branson, I decided to find a race, after all, it is a Saturday.

Today I ran the Habitat Home run 10k, my first 10k. It was relaxing to show up to a race knowing no one, zero expectations to live up to, and the feeling of excitement of being somewhere you have never been.

I started the race at a maintainable pace, and one by one picked off my competitors. The first mile and a half revealed where I stood with the other 10k runners because at that point, the 5k runners were instructed to turn around and head back. The woman I had been gaining on and working so hard to catch up to turned around and I realized, I was my own competition now.

The first 4 miles were tough. The hills were wearing my legs out. My breathing was labored. There weren't people within a catchable distance in front of me, and no footsteps pounding pavement behind me. Once I reached a point with 2 miles left, I took off with a fresh spirit. I was passing some of the 5k runners and encouraged every one of them. I gained strength in giving them a thumbs up or a positive reminder that they would finish.

Today I finished my first 10k in 42 minutes and some seconds. I was the first place female. I received a giftcard,  race swag and a new medal for my collection, but what I learned today was more valuable.

It wasn't too long ago that I was the person out there who needed that extra push. At superhero scramble over a year ago, I was in over my head in an 8 mile race with endless swimming areas. There were times that race I wanted to cry and moments I was ready to quit. There was one person who changed that entire race for me. He took a moment to run beside me and tell me I had what it takes to get through it. Each time the paths crossed, I would hear him shout words of encouragement. Something about knowing someone believes in you when you can't believe in yourself is invaluable. That guy, now my friend, through his actions taught me how valuable positive words and actions can be, even on our competitors. I hope today I was able to give someone else that little something extra.

Sometimes the time, even a second, that we take to say a kind word to someone can be enough to power them through an entire race. This doesn't have to pertain just to races. Take a second of your time to make someone's day, you never know how much a well timed gesture can change someone's outlook!