Monday, January 28, 2013

Inspiration - Part 1

This past weekend was the F^3 half marathon. I'll have a full race-recap later on this week. If you follow me on DailyMile, you know I didn't finish the race. I just had an off-day and didn't feel like myself. As I tend to be hard on myself, and I'm making a point to not let this event define me or my 2013 season. I completed 6 half marathons in 2012. I just did a 10 mile run 2 weeks ago and felt fine. Saturday just wasn't my day. Maggie brought up a good point on DailyMile. "Days like these don't define us as runners - it's how you handle this and bounce back that make you who you are." I think this is a really important point that we can all learn something from. Being a runner isn't always full of great workouts and PRs. If it was, what would be the fun or the challenge? There are days when a workout just doesn't go as planned. There are days when a race doesn't go as planned. But that isn't going to stop us from going out there again and giving it another try. That's what makes running so much fun to me. I'll be back out there this week, and I know it will be fabulous. :)
Having a bad day and still smiling while running the F^3 Half Marathon

I think this is a great time to talk about inspiration. After the Olympics were over, I talked about what had inspired me during the games. Now that I've been in kind of a rut lately, I'm looking beyond myself. I'm going back to some videos and finding some inspiration. I posted a video on my Facebook page on Friday of Ms. Lauren Fleshman tearing it up in the 5000m. (There are a few familiar names in this race too. Amy Hastings, Desiree Davila...) It is from 2010 but it is still freaking amazing. Hearing the announcers, just adds more to it. If you have never seen this video before, I highly suggest you watch it.

Then, there were some big indoor meets over the weekend. Thanks to Flotrack, I'm pretty much obsessed with all things T&F related. I've been following along with the story of high schooler Mary Cain and over the weekend she destroyed the 41 year old high school record for the mile (previously held by Debbie Heald who was highlighted in a recent issue of Runners World). (You can watch the video here.) This girl is only 16 and she is already breaking records and racing with pros. I can only imagine what is in this girl's future and I can't wait to follow along for the ride!

Also, Galen Rupp ran a pretty outstanding indoor mile, missing the American record by a margin. For someone that excels in the 5k and 10k events, it is pretty amazing to have such a fast mile time. Galen is pretty fun to watch compete and I'm looking forward to seeing what he does this season and in the years to come! (Full video here)

Watching these professional athletes really gets me fired up. I find these athletes running these events much more inspiring than reading quotes. To help keep myself motivated, I may turn this "inspiration" thing into a series of posts.

I don't know if there is a short answer to this question, but what or who inspires you?

31 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear about your off day at the F^3. But hey, at least you showed up and gave it a shot, which is more than can be said for 99.99% of the population! You will bounce back real soon and you will savor a good race even more. Anyway, I can be inspired every time I watch the women's 600m 2008 Big 10 indoor track championship video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np-1Kui0g3E

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  2. I could tell after the race you still had such a positive attitude about the whole thing! That is inspiration for me.

    P.S. Where are these amazing photos?

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  3. Thanks so much Erin! That totally brightened my day.

    Here are the photos from the race. I don't think all of them are uploaded yet though. http://www.endurancepicture.com/Sports/Running/F3-Lake-Half-Marathon

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  4. Sorry to hear about your DNF! But! It's just a race, and Maggie is right - it doesn't define you! ;)

    I have been thinking a lot about the people who inspire you - my friend Anne, who lost 50 pounds last year, my trainer, who beat cancer... I could go on and on ;) My blogger friends, you... :)

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  5. I've never seen that video before Pete! That is crazy!!! Talk about some outstanding motivation right there!

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  6. I agree with Maggie Kelly...and I think you once mentioned to me..."You have to have the bad days to appreciate the good ones!"

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  7. When darkness hit for winter I went back into the gym. I got back on the elliptical. It is no where near as fun as going for a good run. I do 60 mins on it everytime I workout. When I have those days where I don't want to finish I just tell myself "today is not the day I don't finish my workout. today is not the day." Just telling myself that has gotten me through the last 10-15 mins many times. It works for me. I also like "It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get back up." So Kelly it's your choice now you got knocked down what are you going to do?

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  8. Wow! Now that is inspirational!! I agree, I don't get much out of quotes, but hearing real stories motivates me much more.

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  9. Totally! You have to have some bad to appreciate the good that much more!

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  10. Thanks for the encouragement! I'm so glad that I can inspire you as you definitely inspire me!

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  11. Just wanted you to know I nominated you for a Liebster Award! http://redhairandrunningshoes.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-liebster-award.html I like reading your blog. Your posts are always so upbeat!

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  12. That is a great motivation tip, of the self pep talk. Talking about my inspirations is getting me back up and out of this funk! I'm looking forward to this week's workouts!

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  13. First, I'm so sorry you had a bad day. After my last marathon experience (and a few others!), I know what a downer it can be to face something that you just know you aren't going to overcome out on the course. But I think those are great learning experiences and definitely can help us be stronger. I'm inspired by my friends who train with me every day. We all have different goals, but their encouragement really rallies me when I need a boost.

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  14. I really love Maggie's quote and I think it's so true. We all have off days, and it's what we learn from them that counts, in my opinion. I have no doubt you'll do the same. Quite honestly, I find myself so inspired by all of you Chicago running bloggers:)

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  15. Sorry to hear about this less than ideal race. Couldnt agree more with Maggie and not letting this get you down or define your 2013 season. I'm sure you made the right decision in pulling theplug on this race- you could have potentially avoided some sort of injury or setback had you kept going. I wish I had DNF'd a few races over the past few years, but was far too headstrong to stop and ended up with a longer period of injury...

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  16. Sorry about the race, but you have an AMAZING attitude! A lot of things inspire me lately, but lately I've been inspired by being ME! And that's working. :)

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  17. Honestly, every single one of us is going to have (at least) one shitty race this year. You just got yours out of the way early. I always thought you were an over achiever, but this just proves it. (Obviously, i am teasing you :) ) But seriously, i do love love LOVE watching the elites, but the people that really inspire me are you and all the other CRB's! Because you're real people, and you're fast, and nice, and awesome. You guys make me want to try harder and run faster! And one bad race just makes you even more real and lovable.

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  18. Kelly- great post! Smart to listen to your body and so true that this will not define you or your season. I had a DNF in a half a few years ago and was worried that I would always be tempted to quit from then on. You know what, I have not even considered it once! And neither will you!

    I wrote a post on an inspiration list that I used in the Dallas Marathon. 26.2 regular people who just go beyond. :) I like Meb and Paula Radcliffe, too, among many other stand-outs.

    Chin up and you'll get them next time. (saw on your RnR post... If you want someone to pace you for a 1:45 half, let me know!)

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  19. That's funny how the track & field inspires you... I don't understand those runners! I love the marathon ladies though-- that's what inspires me! And the "real life ironmen" (not professionals) for their ability to add iron-training to their real lives.

    Sorry to hear about the race, but there will be better ones! Will you be focusing a bit more on speed & shorter distances given your T&F inspiration?

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  20. Thanks so much. I agree, I think every run is a learning experience, whether it is good or bad. Every experience is one with something to take away! If everything was always easy, it wouldn't be any fun. :)

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  21. This early along in the year, I figured it wasn't worth it to push too hard if it wasn't my day. I took almost a full week off the week before and my body just wasn't digging the cold air. Thanks so much for the encouragement!

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  22. That is really great! :) Finding the right motivation that works for you is always important.

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  23. That's a good point about having 1 crappy race per year. There always seems to be at least one... I'm so glad that I can be part of the group that inspires you. You inspire me with your drive to complete marathons! I did one over a year ago and have not yet re-tried that distance...

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  24. Because I used to run in track in high school, I think part of me longs to be able to run that fast! I really love watching those ladies kick major butt out there!

    I have zero interest in completing a triathlon but I have a ton of respect for those that have finished an ironman or half ironman, especially while also working full time. I barely have enough time to just run, let alone do all the training that is necessary.

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  25. Thanks so much for the offer of a pacer! When I feel I'm once again ready to attempt a 1:45 half, I will definitely take you up on that!! :)

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  26. Sorry to hear about the not-so-great F^3 Half experience, but you did the best thing possible by listening to your body and not pushing it beyond its means. I think that's a bigger accomplishment than actually finishing, and it shows that you're an educated and experienced runner :)

    I agree with you - actually seeing people reach incredible feats is what truly inspires me. Quotes are fun and all, but nothing beats seeing a 16 year old break a record and then feeling the spark within yourself. I'm in a bit of a rut myself and need to take an hour to watch some true inspiration!

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  27. You bet! I have paced lots of friends to goals. :) (and I am prouder of those accomplishments than most of my own ;))

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  28. Girl, I just DNF'd a 5K a couple weeks ago. LOL! So if you are feeling bad about the half, just think about that for a minue. I DNF'd a flippin' 5K. As an experienced runner, who doesn't get paid to run, you know damn well when it's time to call it quits and when you are off but can continue on by suffereing insi lenece. Big difference. AAlways listen to you robyd Always.

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  29. We actually talked about that on the way home! I know both you and Britt have DNFed 5ks. I agree that it is important to know yourself and know when to stop. Thanks for the encouragement Amanda!

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  30. I've been meaning to comment on this all week, and tell you how inspirational this was to read. As a newer runner myself, I feel like you veterans are all rock stars who really do go out and have awesome runs every single time, so in a way, it's kind of helpful to know that bad days happen from time to time (though I am sorry that it did!). And it's great that, despite that, you're still so positive and optimistic about your next run. These are the kinds of reminders that are so important.

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