Inspired By Mom

What inspires you?

Some people are inspired by the great.  Pushed by the excellence of others that they dream to achieve.

Some people are inspired by competition.  Those who are close to their equal who they strive to overcome.

Others are inspired by those with unremarkable talent.  Fueled by those with determination who push beyond the odds and limitations.

Recently my running has been inspired by my Mom.  And here's why:

When my mom was young things were different then they are today.  My Mom is a child of the 60's and in her town girls in school couldn't play sports.  I think she could play field hockey, but she didn't want to.  She wanted to run.  And she couldn't.

When I was in high school I ran.  And cheered. And did gymnastics. I played 3 varsity sports in one season and competed in regionals in all three. Mom was there.  Never missing a game, meet, or a trip down the track. I can't imagine not having that experience.

When I finished my first half marathon and then my first full marathon Mom was there.  Ice bag and jelly beans in hand.

Once she was in her 50's Mom finally started running.  She entered master's track meets and eventually became a National Champion. But that's not the part of the story that inspires me.  I'm a distance runner.  Mom is not.

In August of 2012, Mom lined up at her first half marathon start line.  It was the DisneyLand Half Marathon and she was running for the medal...for the bling. She just wanted to finish.

What's remarkable is that a little over a month before she was in the hospital having major abdominal surgery.  And now she was going to run a half marathon with very little distance training.  Mom was instructed by me and Jeff Galloway on the importance of the run-walk-run strategy and off she went.  She finished in 2:45:25.

Then in November 2012 she did it again at the Wine and Dine Half Marathon in a nearly identical time of 2:45:28.

As you'll see in my Tinker Bell Half Marathon recap next week, Mom ran Tink. And Mom Pr'd....BY 12 MINUTES!

Did she train harder?  Nope.  Run longer distance?  Nope.  Mom spends each week in the gym with weights and on the track with her master's team.  There's speed, but not a lot of distance running there.

So how'd she PR?

Heart.  My Mom has heart.  And she never, ever, ever gives up.

So now when I'm out logging my miles and I feel my body getting weak, I think of Mom.  I think of how at Mile 10 I'm sure she thinks this distance running thing is crazy, but she never stops.  She has heart.  And thanks to her I do too.

If you're running the Princess Half Marathon in February come say hi to my Mom.  She'll be the blonde lady dressed like Belle.
Love you Mom.

Who inspires you?

Love and corazon,
Carissa & Kyle