| This last weekend, I got to go to innards of Pennsylvania, and land at an old school kid styled summer camp. This is the spot where I spent the next 3 days with 350 other runners who were there for the Oiselle’s Big Bird Camp. It was everything that you could imagine a running summer camp having; a lake, bunk beds, dining hall, tree houses, and acres beyond acres of green rolling trails. This was my second year here, and I hope to go back next year. Among all these women were, older runners, fast runners, trail runners, fast trail runners, chatty runners, solo runners, rounder runners, and short runners. So, all the runners. As I watched all of these women cruise around the grounds, I remembered an exercise I had done a few months ago reading Brene Brown’s Dare To Lead. The exercise is a huge list of values, and you have to pick 2-3 that you hold in your hand and define who you are. The thing is that all the values are equally valid, and that one is not better than the other. My values are not better than yours, and if we all had the same ones in our hand, our world would be pretty boring. I strongly believe that we fall into a heap of problems arguing and judging each other for having a different system of values. I am sure you can think of some examples in today’s landscape. All of these women, and runners, in general, get something different out of running. And that thing is their running value. The reason that you run is not better than the reason why I run. And the thing you get out of the running is not lesser then what I get out of it. So when a fast runner is zooming past you and gets to the finish line first, it’s not better, she just wants something different out of the movement. Not better, just different. This whole idea was the spark of my creative project, Why We Run, to show people that we do this thing for different reasons and having respect for why you run, and equally have respect why she does it, and why they run. Being envious and comparative sucks out all of the respect, and defeats the joy of it all. I am sure there are a ton more, but here are some running values that I have heard over the last 13 years. Pick a couple that might sing to you, and of course, these are fluid and will be different in different parts of your life. Being in Nature Community One on One Time Competition Mental Health Physical Health Alone time Adventure Self Achievement Growth If you can’t find one, here are some starter questions to help you uncover your reasons. What do you want out of running? What part of running do you enjoy? What is your ideal running scenario? One of the reasons I love running and it took me years to find is music. Running with music makes me feel like I can take over the world, and take all y’all with me. It’s literally my jam. I hope you find yours, cause it’s awesome. Go get it! Coach Beth Upcoming Stuff! Half Marathon is Open and we have a $20 early bird discount ENDS Saturday! Training starts 9/28th for fall half. We are training for fall races and would love to have you. You can sign up here! Pack Price is going up on September 9th. If you want to join our pack you’d get in before 9/9). The price will go up to $125/month for new members. (Don’t worry current Pack, your price will stay the same. 😘 ) Pack includes upcoming: Couch to 5k Half Marathon Training Boot Camp Everything in between. join our private FB Badass Group. We are starting a sleep challenge next week. Want in? Join here! |
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