Motivating Matters

    As I said in my blog post, Get Motivated to Move with Step’n, I had the intention to run my first half marathon this month and I did just that. My running journey started back in April of 2022 when I stumbled upon an app called Step’n, and the rest has been history. If you’re interested in learning more about the app check out that blog post. In this post, I wanted to share with you the moving experience (no pun intended) and lessons I learned since starting to run and after completing the half marathon.

    What I have come to enjoy about running is how simple, yet difficult it is. That’s a confusing thing to understand without further explanation. What makes running so simple is that it doesn’t require much besides a pair of running shoes, which makes it accessible to a large majority of the world. The barrier for entry is only a willingness to try, and there are no rules or added complexities. Running is the same for everyone who has the ability. There are no borders that confine it, thus making it a unifying sport.

    What makes it so difficult is the pain and soreness your body can endure during and after training. It can be difficult to remain motivated and consistent like any other habit. It can also feel lonely if you’re training by yourself. But it’s important to keep in mind that putting your mind and body through pain and uncomfortable situations is one of the greatest ways to grow as a person. 

    I am proud of myself for completing the half marathon, and it’s a monumental achievement being that it was my first one, but that is not my my end goal. My end goal is to be a healthy individual, and all the goals I set for myself along the way are part of the journey.    

    Prior to running the half marathon, I saw news headlines about 37 year old Kenyan runner, Eilud Kipchoge, who broke the world record at the Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:01:09. I had never heard of him before, but he is a world class athlete and can be argued to be the greatest marathoner of all time. I decided to dig a little deeper and learn more about him. 

    In an interview before the Berlin Marathon, he was asked numerous questions about what running meant to him, and how he overcame negativity and pain. He proceeded to respond that “running is life” and that “pain is where success is,” and that he couldn’t imagine himself doing anything else. He encouraged everyone to take part in running and exercise because of the proven impacts it can have on your health and well-being. Click here to watch part of the interview. 

    The final question he was asked was about his positive mindset and why he is always seen smiling, and his answer could not have been better. He said, “positivity is actually what drives a human being in this world. If you are positive then you can actually push limits. The moment you think otherwise, then you start going back. So positivity is actually the key in everything you are doing.” His journey and mentality as a runner has become an inspiration for many.  

    Thinking back on the half marathon I ran, I can relate to those mental and physical battles Eilud Kipchoge refers to in his interview. The pain and stiffness for me became eminent in the last five kilometers of the race. Throughout the race there were people along the course cheering me on, which helped push my limits. Big shoutout to my mom for supporting me throughout. But what ultimately got me to the finish line was what I kept thinking about. I kept reminding myself when I was struggling of all the things I was doing the race for. I devoted the race to my parents and especially my dad who has been struggling with FTD dementia for a few years now. Most importantly, I was doing it for myself and proving that I was capable of persevering.

    My half marathon was everything I expected and more. It felt so rewarding reaching the finish line, receiving the medal, and hugging my mom afterwards. I even finished with a pretty decent time of 1:40:11, which ended up being 45th overall. After finishing my first one I already want to do another! You might not think running is for you, and I get it because I used to think that way too, but you’ll never know what you’re capable of until you try!