Are you a Runner?

If you live in the Chicago area, I bet you know someone who has run a marathon.

Marathon running has spiked in popularity with over 503,000 people completing a marathon in 2010. In Chicago last year, 36,159 people finished the 26.2 miles, and 45,000 people signed up to run it this year. 

This past weekend I finished the Savannah Rock and Roll marathon with 20,000 others. 

I am always amazed at the people I see out on the course because there is no “typical runner.”  Think about the person you know who runs. Do they look like a runner?  How about when you first met them. Did they look like a runner then?

This weekend I saw many “typical runners.” There was a young man who couldn't have been older than 13 with his Dad running the half marathon. I talked to a woman from Atlanta who was running the half marathon; she plans to start training for her first triathlon next year.  There also were men and women who walked the entire 13.1 mile half marathon race course -- taking over 4 hours to do it -- to reach a goal they set for themselves.   

Being a Biggest Loser Fan, I was excited to see Dan Evans from the 2008 season next to me at the start. Not only was he there running a half marathon but he was also held a concert after the race to raise money for charity.  Just three years ago Dan weighed 310 pounds, and now, here he was, a “typical” runner standing next to me at the starting line of the Savannah marathon.

As I look around at the finish of the races I run, I often wonder what each runner's story is. What made them start running? What was it that finally had them set the goal, train, and cross the finish line?   

Dan Evans had a goal: To be a country music star. The one thing holding him back was his weight. He took the first step and applied to the Biggest Loser. Now, he’s not only finishing races, he has the energy to sing in front of thousands afterwards.

I ran the Savannah marathon with a friend who had a goal: Run her first marathon before she was 50. Just three years ago she couldn’t run 5 miles. She took baby steps toward her goal -- first running a 10K, next a 10 mile race, then a half marathon. Finally on Saturday, she completed a full marathon and achieved a major personal goal in the process. 

I love the quote by my fellow runner John Bingham; “The miracle is not that I finished; the miracle is that I had the courage to start.”

Go out and start something today.  You’ll be one step closer to achieving your goal.