There is always HOPE.
I recently watched “Brittany Runs a Marathon” – a movie about a young woman who realizes it’s time to make some serious changes to her lifestyle … and sets out for a run. At first, it’s just around the block. Then it grows to suffering through a 5K with a friend. And finally, in comes the big goal of running a marathon. It’s pretty predictable, but I won’t give away any of the side-stories or quirky moments here, just in case you want to watch it yourself (and I do recommend it!).
What I will share with you is my emotional response to this movie. Some might say I’m obsessed with running – and you’d be correct – because truly, it is my life: I run, I coach, I treat runners as a PT, I browse results from local and professional racing. Our dinnertime conversations somehow always revolve back to running, whether it’s talking about our own runs, or how our bodies are feeling after a tough workout, what time we need to get up in the morning so we can both run before our daughter wakes up, the big question mark of the Fall 2020 cross country season (yes, I know other sports exist...). It’s just who we are. I’ve always said that our child(ren) can participate in any sport, but if it’s not cross country or track, there’s a good chance that we will not be there because of coaching and our own competitions.
Anyway, back to Brittany.
She wanted to run a marathon. She worked HARD for that marathon. When it came to race day in the movie, I felt all the feels of race day, right alongside Brittany. I actually got goosebumps and teared up when I watched that scene in the movie, and I felt those butterflies in my stomach. Remember, we’re now at 4+ months of essentially no in-person racing, but those race day vibes do feel a little unfamiliar but they are definitely still there!
Brittany was a young woman who had been making unhealthy lifestyle choices for years. She turned it around the moment she took the first steps out the door to run the block.
The hardest part is getting out the door.
There is hope for all of us in this movie. That applies if your goal is to have enough stamina to walk alongside your grandchildren as they bike … or to carry laundry up and down the basement stairs without losing your balance or your breath … or to finish a 5K with your partner to support your favorite charity … or to run the New York City marathon.
We could all use a little HOPE right now.
For me, that was registering for a race that is more-likely-than-others to actually happen in-person this fall. For my sister, it’s being creative in strategies for re-opening schools (or not). For residents in nursing homes (at least in New York), it’s the possibility of having visitors for the first time in several months. For my clients, it’s the realization that time away from the pressures and commitments of racing is an opportunity to address other things that have needed attention.
If you’re looking for inspiration (with some chuckles!), watch Brittany’s story. Maybe you’ll see similarities to your own. Maybe it will spark a fire in you to get working toward your ultimate goal. Maybe it’s what you need to realize there is always hope.
I’ll be here, talking with my husband about today’s run, refueling, and setting alarms for the next workout, whenever you want to jump in on the conversation.