If I Could Talk To My Non-Runner Self

If I could go back in time and tell my non-runner self a few things, here is what I would start with…

• You will not look like a gazelle running. Run despite of that.
• Move to the right when someone is passing you.
• A nod of the head serves as a hello when you are to out of breath.
• You may pee your pants–accept it
• You won’t poop your pants (thank goodness) but you will have to accept that sometimes you gotta go in the woods.
• Neosporin works in a pinch when you can’t find your Body Glide.
• It’s socially acceptable to have “bathroom” talk with other runners.
• You will not sound like Adele. If you want to sing on your run, go ahead.
• Bloks will be something you eat, not something you build with.
• You will find yourself oddly satisfied when you are really sore.
• You will look at every runner you drive past and wonder if you know them.
• Moisture wicking gear is more comfortable in the long run. You will buy it.
• You will spend more on running apparel than anything else in your closet.
• You will feel jealous when a friend tells you they ran today and it’s your rest day.
• You will start to rearrange your schedule to make sure you get to run.
• Vacations will become run-cations.
• You will tell people you hated running. 99% will respond with they hated it too.
• At some point you will breakdown and add a running sticker to your car.
• Running humor will become hilarious – fartlek anyone?
• You will feel that it’s BS that all major marathons aren’t televised from start to finish.
• You will eventually feel that it’s bad luck to wear the race shirt before the race.
• Chicago, Berlin, San Antonio, Las Vegas, London are names of races to you, not cities.
• You will form a bond with someone through shared runs.
• You don’t need last names – Deena, Kara, Shalane, Desi, Paula, Catherine.
• When asked your shoes size, you will respond with one size for your regular shoes and another for your running shoes.
• Runner will eventually become one of the few key words you use to describe yourself. Mother. Wife. Friend. Dreamer. Runner.
• You will run in your dreams, literally waking your husband up with the movement of your legs.
• Running marathons will be just as fun, if not more fun than a night out on the town.
• Every year you will tell yourself that you want to stop running marathons and “date” a new distance.
• Each and every year you will remember that the marathon has your heart for life.
• You will find confidence you lacked up through running.
• You can do hard things and you will.
• You will think about running every day, even if you don’t run.
• Running will become your passion and it will be hard to remember the years you didn’t run.

If you could go back in time, what would you tell yourself? Tweet me @mileposts to tell me!

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