Hello runner friends!
Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series
MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!
Now let's get started by talking about some of the ways running blesses us. Why? Because counting our blessings reminds us just how fortunate we are to have the gift of movement, which helps to keep us motivated to continue lacing up our shoes day after day.
MINNEAPOLIS — Motherhood is Meghan Roth's new passion, but if anything is to take second place, it would be running. "I've been doing marathons for 12-plus years," Meghan said. The Twin Cities resident has finished 13 marathons and even qualified for the Olympic Trials during the 2019 Boston Marathon, which she couldn't wait to conquer again after giving birth. Meghan trained and ran a half marathon in preparation. "As far as I knew I was in the best shape of my life," she said. That's how it felt for the first seven miles last week in Boston. But then, on mile eight, she suddenly felt fuzzy and blacked out. "Everything seemed completely fine, so it was literally seconds and I was collapsed to the ground," Meghan said. She had gone into cardiac arrest. "Meghan was blue in the face when I got there," said Tanner Smith from Las Vegas. Thankfully, Smith, a physician's assistant, and Nick Haney, a firefighter from Oregon, were running close behind her in the race. The friends took turns performing CPR. "I had looked down at Meghan and once Tanner had taken over, that's when I could tell her color had come back. The compressions were doing what we needed them to do," Haney said. Meghan woke up in the ambulance — angry and frustrated. "There were so many emotions at once," she said. But when the near-death experience sunk in, she thought of Jaxon. "Just the thought of never seeing him again, it's just the worst feeling in the world and I'm just so blessed to be here. I'm so happy to be home," she said. Happy to be home and happy to thank those who helped save her.
I don't know about you but that story certainly struck a chord with me. It had me thinking about how unpredictable life is... even for us runners who tend to be in better physical health than the majority of the population. "I'm so blessed to be here," Meghan said. Aren't we all blessed to be here? Of course. And if you have the ability to run today, consider yourself doubly blessed because running gives us so many more reasons to be thankful. Here are just a few....
Running allows a person to not only see the world but to actually experience it in a way that can only be described as magical. The sights, sounds and smells of nature are only appreciated in their entirety when a person is in the midst of them, traveling at a slow pace, and being consciously present. Is there any other activity that offers these perks? And that's not even talking about how great it is to feel the warmth of a new sunrise on your skin or the mist of the morning air in your lungs. Running has the innate ability to grant us full access to a world of beauty that we can experience with all of our senses—which reminds us of how blessed we are to be here.
Running allows you to form lasting friendships.... friendships that just make life more fun. So much fun, in fact, that if you ask any runner why they keep doing things that cause pain (like running halves, fulls and ultras), they'll most likely tell you that it's because of their friends. I know that's one of main reasons I keep getting suckered (I mean influenced LOL) into running long distances. The fun totally outweighs any of the negative consequences that running brings. And besides, who needs toenails when you have great running buddies right?
Running shows you that you are capable of much more than you could ever imagine. Whether it's completing your first 5k, a very hilly and challenging Run the Rock 6-miler, or a marathon, every finish line is a reminder that hard work pays off and gives you a reason to keep putting in the effort despite the pain. And what's even better is that those lessons aren't left behind on the racecourse. They carry over into life. The grit, perseverance, discipline and determination gained during training will benefit you on your job, in your friendships and with your family. Running gives a person increased confidence and improved self esteem. It makes a person say, "I completed the Bass Pro marathon, there's nothing that I can't do."
Running teaches us things about ourselves. It reveals our character strengths and our weaknesses in a way that no other activity could. And here's something, written by Amby Burfoot that nearly every runner will eventually learn... Running has taught me, perhaps more than anything else, that there's no reason to fear starting lines... or other new beginnings. How's that for a great life lesson?
Well there you have it friends. Running really is a blessing in more ways than one and should never be taken for granted. So the next time you lace up your shoes, say a prayer of thanksgiving before heading out the door. It will remind you that running is a beautiful and priceless gift that allows us to see how wonderful life truly is. Hope to see you at the Bass Pro start line soon!
Happy Running!
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