When the student is ready....

I've had some major writer's block since completing my first marathon 6 weeks ago. I continue to struggle with a leg injury from my big day and my morale and writing have really suffered. 

Another blogger and friend is interviewing other runners for a fitness series he is doing (PS His story is amazing and you can check him out at http://www.fat2fitfred.com/ ) 

So I have been sitting on his interview questions far too long. Ironically, in finally sitting down to write my answers, I came across an old blog post I had written in 2013, the very first time I ever dared dream of running a marathon. Reading it was a good reminder that I gave up fear a long time ago. It reminded me to be brave in a new decision and dream I am currently contemplating. It's funny how when you set out to do something for someone else, it often times circles back to you. Thanks Fred :)

He asked the question if I had ever run as a kid and I had this flashback to a funny story from high school.......


Written June 19, 2013

When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.....

I actually had the nerve to google training for a marathon last night! I know, crazy…right?? It was a pretty bold act because to even entertain the thought of running 26.2 miles with only an 11 mile long run seems absurd even to me! But much to my surprise, after looking at the training I humbly and apprehensively thought, Hmm. 

I couldn’t help thinking about my marathon running neighbor telling me that if you finish a marathon you are automatically a 1%-er. I’m not exactly sure what that meant but I liked it immediately. Stay tuned :)

Still thinking about my gutsy google search over my morning coffee today, I had a funny high school flashback. I was 15 or 16 years old and my friend and I decided to try out for cross country. Our reasoning for doing this escapes me. Here we were, girly girls with zero experience in any sport other than cheer leading, huffing and puffing down Maple Avenue, dead last behind a pack of runners that had become black specks in the distance. I vividly remember the coach driving by as we happened to be resting by a tree asking each other why the heck we were doing this.

“Come on ladies,” he shouted. “Move it! At the very least walk”.

Man did that tick me off! I remember thinking, who the heck is this pudgy little man driving in his teenie tiny compact car to tell me to move it? 

So we did what any other teenage girls would do. One of us watched for him and we hid & rested behind random parked cars when we saw him circling by as we made our way down Maple Avenue back to Notre Dame. 

And that marked my first and last time running for 25 years.

Today I started wondering why something I hated as a kid suddenly became so meaningful to me 25 years later. I decided the answer might be in a quote I had heard a long time ago…

“When the student is ready the teacher will appear”

So at 41, I’m finally laced up and ready to learn! And as shallow as it may be I secretly wish my past skeptics and even my pudgy little cross country coach would drive by and see me now! I wouldn’t hide behind a parked car today. I have 41 years of maturity and wisdom behind me.

In the spirit of the wise quote….

Sometimes when the pudgy shouting teacher appears the student is ready. To shout back, take a look at me now, buddy! Happy Friday!