Running is a means to an end… to many ends, in fact. The more I run, the more energy I have. Seems backwards, really. I mean, why is it that the more TIME I devote to exercise each day, the more that I can accomplish in that same day in other areas of my life? I can take the same 24 hour day and seemingly “lengthen” it by ADDING an hour of exercise. Go figure.

So, I don’t need to be inspired to run, because it is the other way around… I run to inspire my daily living. On the days that I can’t exercise because of the craziness of family life, work or meetings, I feel distracted, sloppy, out-of-control and unproductive. When I can devote one sweaty hour to pure physical exertion I am recharged and focused. Training for a marathon works beautifully in this scheme of things as it gives me the excuse to make the time for that natural stimulant.

It wasn’t always this way. I learned of this body/mind/energy connection at the age of 42. A local road race course ran by our house every third weekend in August. In 2002, I stopped cheering on my neighbors and entered that race. I learned in that first running event that I was capable of doing what I’d watched other people do, and I was not going to “spectate” anymore. It was time to physically challenge my body and soul… to step outside of my comfort zone. Thanks to my involvement with a local running club, the miles starting piling up. Within two and a half years of that initial jog/walk around the block, I registered to run my first marathon. And in a few weeks, I will run my eighth.

Being physically active has not only allowed me to run marathons and fill my days with more activity than I ever imagined possible, but it has inspired me to encourage others to lead healthy lives… and to believe in themselves. I try to practice what I preach every day to set an example for my family and our community. Wellness is like a religion; once you “believe,” you want to encourage others to experience the benefits.

My daily exercise, whether it be running or cycling or yoga or walking the dog… inspires me to keep stretching for new challenges and to infuse others with my excitement for healthy living. I don’t require inspiration to run… I need running to inspire me to reach my potential.