Who Do You Run For?

We all have a story.

A story of how we started running, a story of who inspired us to start running, a story of who inspired us to keep running.

For many these stories might revolve around Meb, Lopez Lomong, Shalane Flanagan or watching the 2008 Olympic Trials (that one may be personal)… but that initial spark of inspiration can burn out fast — so what keeps you running? This is my story.

My first race: I was in 8th grade and my future high school coach convinced me to run the junior race at their upcoming meet. At this time I was living at my Grandparents throughout the week because my dad worked an unusual schedule as a firefighter. So it was up to my Grandma to 1) get me to the race and 2) convince me to go to the race — because I was already suffering from the race anxiety… but I didn’t know it yet.

M was more than happy to accomplish both of those tasks, if she asked me to jump off a bridge I would because there would surely be an altruistic purpose for me to do so. She was my inspiration, someone who I try to emulate in a lot of aspects in my life , she was fearless yet she was cautious — “Life finds a way”.

She was always so optimistic, whenever I would run a terrible race in high school or college she would always be there to tell me, “You did good JJ”. I may have hated it at the time — all I wanted to do was sulk — but I can look back at it now and feel a warmth around those moments. When I thought I let myself down, she was always there to pick me back up… and what…