Today I Really Ran Again.

I showed up. I was a bit nervous. I was unprepared to say the least. But, for the first time, I was ok knowing that what I had today was a healthy body, mind, and support from coaches and doctors and family whom know me and love me.

I showed up smiling at full of heart- and I guess it's easy to approach me whether at a race or in the gym with a look of pity or a story you have made up in your head that is not at all my story as to why I am not always in perfect form, condition, fast, and furious. You may scoff and say, "ha...she runs too much, she doesn't take enough care, she doesn't train correctly- it's a form of shaming really. I think, I do not shame you for making unhealthy decisions: whether its drinking too much, eating shit food, playing video games, being an asshole (mainly cause I am guilty of all the above too- ha!)

My point is, we don't know each others experiences. Always assume someone has a story JUST LIKE YOURS! There is no score card - we are all doing the best we know how with what we have. Leave the ego in the trash can. You don't know the secret to life and neither do I- and I especially don't presume to know yours------unless I'm your coach ha! Honestly, Coach Webster knows my personality as well as my husband ha!

But you are wrong. You are very wrong. I am human. I am, like you, with a story. Whether your story is breaking your back in a fall, getting unfathomably hot by a car on a run and having to rehab, or have digestive issues, UTIs, broken bones, migraines, wacky hormones....you get it! We ARE ALL HUMAN. Looking back on the last 30 years of my career. I see beauty; i see triumph; i see lots and lots and lots of records, titles, Olympic Trials build ups, races, FKTs on the trail in the 50 mile. I see success. I hope you do to. I hope that when you see me- whether healthy and fast or broken and slow that you know I am a work in progress - just like you.

I remember always bickering - in a fun, teaching way with some of my favorite running buddies who almost always thought I did too little, too much, not enough this too much of that when in reality, my coach and I knew what we were doing all along. And that, in running competitively for 30 plus years comes innate risks and the truth - I am happy for it all. I am grateful for every part of me and my journey.

Today, I raced. just 4 weeks ago I started running again for the first time in half a year! and the half a year before that was plagued with valleys and mountains. Basically non consistency which want no racing what I love to -do. I love all of it - the training process, the preparing, the racing gear, the beautiful mornings, the nerves, the self doubt then the chance to squash the heck out of that doubt by believing in my strength and effort. Walking away winning or losing - I love it all. So today, I raced. On 4 weeks of running every 3 days increasing my mileage very steadily and really recovery between, I was actually able to get connected with that part of my heart and would that loves to fly.

I hope that this post can inspire you to never give up. Im not going to. No matter what the crowd wants to say - don't your knees hurt, didn't you break your leg, why do you run so much- we need to stop explaining. Start owning your journey - all of it - cause its right, its real, and no one knows you more than you. Love you al =l so much! Thanks for loving me! Coach.

Oh, and thank you to all my athletes - I thought of all of you during the race- geez 5ks are HARD!!! ha!

17:45 on a hilly cobbled (not a word?) whatever- road. I will take it. Turkey trot sub 17 here I come!