A Little Training and a Lot of Heart

The few of you who actually read my blog may have noticed that I recently changed its name to “Run Your Heart Out.”

I recently heard the expression “running with your heart.” This phrase has a new meaning for me after my most recent marathon, which was by far my toughest. I was injured, undertrained and more than a little nervous. While waiting at the start line, I tried not to focus on the fact that my longest run that season had been a slow 14-miler. I was about to attempt running almost twice as far.

I forced myself to stay positive, to think good thoughts. I stretched and chatted with other runners, trying to distract myself, trying to get out of my own head. This was it. There was no turning back now. The race was about to start.

I thought of my father who had lost his battle to cancer, thought of my friend Denise who was fighting for her life, and thought of my team, all of us trying to make a difference in our own small way—we were all in this together. I was blessed to be at that start line. Blessed to have the opportunity to test my limits. Blessed to be part of a great running community and an amazing charity organization.

I would be running with very little training and a whole lot of heart. This race would be all heart. I got up, looked ahead, and ran my heart out.