Running in circles!

I think the majority of us would agree that it is easy to stay in our comfort zone. We rely on that routine of normalcy that steers us everyday. I am definitely no the exception!

As you may have noticed in my bio for this blog, it mentions that I am training for my first 5K. Well, here is my confession…I have been training for this event for over a year. In all honesty, I have been physically ready for many months but, my fear has kept me from getting any where near the start line!

If I am being truly honest, I never sought out to be a runner. In fact, I had a wealth of excuses (most made up by me) to get out of any strenuous exercise, especially running! I didn’t have the right shoes, I read several reports that it really wasn’t that healthy for you or, it made my knees hurt. I’m really not sure how I came up with the last one, because the only running I was familiar with was “running to the store”.

Running actually came about by accident. I was at the YMCA one evening walking on the treadmill. I guess I was feeling adventurous because I chose a pre-set workout setting that I had never tried before. There I was, leisurely walking along, my ear phones in, oblivious to the track stars beside of me when, all of a sudden, I noticed the belt beneath my feet picking up speed…fast! I began to walk more briskly, and then moved into a power walk, then a jog, and, finally, a full-fledged run. The treadmill had taken on a life of its own! Well, I had to keep going. I couldn’t stop and risk looking like I hadn’t meant to start sprinting like I was training for the Olympics. So, I was running. And, surprisingly, I didn’t end up doing a face plant off the back of the machine! Even more surprisingly, I was actually enjoying it! It was then that I decided that I was going to keep pushing myself. I was going to run a 5K…eventually.

As the weeks passed, I kept running, but still kept putting off a race. Again, I came up with a wealth of excuses: It was always too hot, too cold, or the course was too mountainous (we do live in the Mountain State!). I had set a goal, but I kept running in circles.

Finally, the day came when I could not put of my goal any longer. The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure would be held in Charleston on May 2nd. My mother is a breast cancer survivor. What a perfect opportunity to celebrate her fight, honor countless others, and help do my part to raise awareness of this disease that affects so many. There were no excuses I could make up that could trump all the reasons for participating in this race. I have to admit, however, it was not for a lack of trying!

Then, the final piece of the cosmic puzzle fell into place. One of my very best friends, who now lives in Alabama, would be home that weekend and was going to enter the race as well. That was it, I was physically prepared (although, mentally and emotionally were a different question!), I had a partner in crime, and it was for a cause that I was very passionate about. So, I registered for my first 5K.

I didn’t sleep much the night before and may have performed several rain dances. However, it didn’t take me long the morning of the race to remember what the entire Susan G. Komen event was about. It was not about me crossing the finish line, although that would be a big bonus; it was about celebrating those who are winning their battle with cancer and honoring those who fought a brave fight. For those, very real reasons, I could certainly put my fears and trepidation aside.

Finally, we were off! Hundreds of people pledging to take a stand and stop cancer in its tracks! It was truly an amazing and overwhelming experience.

As I was making my way through the course, I realized, to my surprise, that I didn’t feel pain or exhaustion. I felt a sense of accomplishment and inspiration. I now understood that if I had stayed in my comfort zone, continued with my same routine, I would have never been a part of this amazing event and I never would have pushed myself to achieve a goal I set many months ago.

Then I saw it…the finish line (I did have to blink several times to be sure it wasn’t some sort of mirage)! I had done it…I finished the race! My struggle to finish does not even compare to the struggle faced by many of the people I was running with or running for. It was a personal triumph, however, made even more personal by the fact that I was able to run in celebration of my mother.

I know not every race I run (yes, I hope, there will be more) will come with as great a reward but, with every race will come a renewed sense of pride and accomplishment. Each race I run will be a reminder to me to keep pushing myself forward.

I realized through this process that if we stay in our comfort zones and don’t push ourselves forward toward our goals, we will keep running in circles!

For more information on the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, please visit www.komen.org.