MORE FROM HUFFPOST
MORE FROM HUFFPOST
marathon running
One of the best presents I've ever received was something I gave to myself. It was three years ago, and for my 50th birthday, when I gave myself permission to try something outside of my comfort zone.
Rachel Harris was there with her fundraising team, the St. Jude Dudes at the annual pre-race pasta dinner for St. Jude Heroes. It was held in early December, on the night before the 2015 St. Jude Memphis Marathon.
In the solitary moments when I wonder if I have wandered off course on a trail, I am an individual competing against only myself. Yet there is no escaping identity, whether of our invention or as imposed upon each of us.
In life there are good days and not so good days. The same holds true for runs and ultra-events. Challenges greet us all, only to pass, making room for new challenges which pass, too.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
WHAT'S HAPPENING
But running a normal marathon won't have the same effect.
I couldn't run a mile in high school gym, but a decade later, I completed the NYC Marathon! It was one of the best, most triumphant days of my life. I'm proof that anyone can do it! It all comes down to training. Here are my tips for crushing your first marathon.
The best--and worst--thing about running is that you will never master it. You will never be perfect at it. You challenge yourself every time you lace on your shoes. Hell, it took me two years to even like running!
After feeling inadequate for so long, I suddenly remembered what it felt like to be good at something. I had run a marathon! I had a new friend. I was reacquainted with the idea that I was athletic, talented, and hard-working. I had given myself a gift.
Autumn brings changing leaves and crisp air that's perfect for a comfortable outdoor workout. To check out the East Coast's fall foliage on the run, consider registering for one of these fall foliage races and runs--colorful autumn vistas are guaranteed.
