This morning, I opened up my Gmail inbox and saw a post from one of my favorite newsletters, which shared this:
“A newsletter has to have a theme and it has to evolve… One thing I've learned is never to limit your scope of interest. If you’re obsessed with something off your beat don’t be afraid to cover that too, whether it’s spy novels, sad sports teams or the Westminster dog show.”
Okay, that’s probably a little further afield from where we generally travel here, but it got me thinking: how have you changed/evolved as an athlete since you started your running journey?
What new goals have you reached for, especially if they’re things you didn’t think were possible for you previously? What’s changed about you? — Terrell
I've actually become a runner. I can't live without it and, I know this sounds cliché but, at 55 I am in the best physical and mental shape of my life. I am sober 13 years, since around the time I started taking running seriously. Those two things are not coincidence. Even though running didn't become the obsession drinking was, I realize now that is one way I define myself. And I am totally OK with that.
I’ve evolved in this area by actually using the word runner when I speak of myself or I let others refer to me as a runner.
When I first started, even though I was running consistently, I wouldn’t use that word for myself because I didn’t feel like I had achieved the label. When others would mention “oh so you’re a runner?” I would immediately respond “not really but I try”.
One day I just got tired of letting everyone else define my own identity.
Here I am, a runner, three weeks into training for my first half marathon.