My neighborhood is a hilly one.
Over the years, I’ve cursed those ups and downs.
The truth, though, is that each finish line I’ve crossed has been thanks to those hills and valleys.
I don’t remember the day I stopped running, but I remember why.
Life stopped me.
It was sprinting downhill ahead of me and, no matter how hard I tried to keep up, I couldn’t.
A week went by.
Then a month.
Then another.
And another month until, one day, it felt like I was in a deep valley looking up a steep hill.
Sometimes, I’d stop and look at the pile of old spandex on the shelf and wonder, “how did I do it?”
But it didn’t matter. That part of my life was over.
I don’t remember the day I stopped running, but I remember the day I started again.
It was a dull winter morning.
Strangely, for the first time in months, I felt a twitch in my heels.
“Later maybe,” I said to myself, and turned on the TV.
The weather girl announced it was -7C with a windchill of -17C, and that a storm was on its way.
Not exactly a good day for a run.
I ate a donut, and thought about my options.
As I did, I felt an ache in my chest.
“Now.” I said to myself, and I went upstairs to battle the spandex.
I knew it would be cold, and I knew I wouldn’t get far.
I knew it would hurt.
Still, I laced up my shoes and opened the door.
It was a cold and windy 4km but, for the first time in a long time, I did some thinking.
I thought about finish lines I’d crossed.
I thought about the short ones, the long ones, the ultra-long ones and, tearfully, the last one.
Getting to them was never easy.
But I crossed them all.
My legs, surprisingly, chugged happily along as I worked my way around the neighborhood.
I looked at my feet and noticed my shoes.
They felt good.
They reminded me of dark, quiet mornings and long training runs.
Which reminded me of watching the sun rise over my sleepy city.
Which reminded me of count-the-buns runs.
My shoes reminded me of good things.
It was around this time when my lungs started to burn, and I realized I’d passed the valley.
It was time to push myself up the biggest hill in the neighborhood.
Once, I could sprint up that hill.
That day, it felt like I was crawling.
I felt the wind pick up as the storm closed in, and I could see my breath in front of me.
But to beat that storm, I was going to have to fight the pain and pick up my pace.
So, I did.
Some finish lines are crossed at a sprint, and others at a crawl.
But if you stop running, you can’t finish the race.
As for me, I don’t remember the day I stopped running because that day hasn’t come.
I’m still sprinting my way to the valleys, and fighting my way up the hills.
And the day I cross Life’s finish line, I know what I’ll be wearing.
I’ll be wearing my running shoes.
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Hi I’m Shreya!
Love the post. You have great content on your blog. Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
I am relatively new to the blogging forum so please feel free to visit my blog and leave some feedback if you even find the time.
Enjoy your summer.
Smiles,
Shreya xx
http://www.shreya24x7.wordpress.com
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Hi Shreya, Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog! All the best with yours!
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I like this one. I mean, I’ve like them all, but I really like this one. It’s been a whole year of those ups and downs, but you’re right – there’s nothing to do but keep on running. Cheers and Happy New Year!
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Agreed – it was definitely a year filled with hills and valleys! Glad this one struck a chord. Hang in there and keep running in 2016!!
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So many life lessons can come through running Fleck.
To keep going despite what obstacles life throws at you is so huge. I am glad you continue to run.
Thank you for sharing. Wishing you a wonderful 2016.
Happy running! 🙂
~Carl~
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Thanks so much, Carl! One foot in front of the other is the best way to deal with life! Best wishes to you as well in 2016!
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I love this post! It’s very similar to my running story and my life story. Thanks for sharing this, it made me smile and made my day!
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Thanks, Isabelle! And thank you for stopping by for the read! I’m glad it made you smile!
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Very touching. Happy New Year, Fleck!
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Thanks so much! Happy running in 2016!
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This.
This is the exact post that I needed to read today.
Thanks, Fleck, for once again being my inspiration and my role model.
Happy New year. 🙂
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Aww, you’re too sweet. Thanks for the read and the kind words!
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Happy New Year! Running, training, practicing (yoga) once you start and it bites you, you can’t stop! Happy you’re feeling better and back 🙂
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Thanks so much, Natalie!!
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Very inspirational, Fleck! I’ve had a twisted knee for months, but it won’t stop me from SUPing or windsurfing. Happy new year to you!
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A twisted knee? Ouch! Glad to see you’re fighting through it. Wishing you many enjoyable afternoons on the water for 2016!
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I know Terri. This is adorable. Are you an illustrator of children’s books? If not, you could be. It is colder here than usual, so I’m not excercising much, but I enjoyed your illustrations and Fleck’s story.
I met you on Danny Ray’s site. Congratulations on being his featured blogger. I was his featured blogger too! Perhaps you’ll check out my site if you could use a blogging tip or two. That’s what I write about.
Janice
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Hi Janice! Thanks for reading and the kind words! I’m not an illustrator, stick figures are as good as it gets but maybe there’s a future in stick figures? 🙂 I’ll be sure to check out your site!
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I will look forward to your visit.
Janice
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Just found your blog – Love it so far. What a great post.
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Boy does this resonate with me. I had been working out for almost 3 years and loved it. I would get up early every morning and do Jillian Michael’s Body Revolution Workout, hated it at first but once I was in shape, loved it! Then last winter was so cold I stopped getting up early and stopped working out. I’m getting the bug again but haven’t been able to start getting up early again. I kinda like sleeping in a little longer and being able to stay up a little later…however, I have gained weight back and that’s bothering me. I really want to do Yoga and even signed up for an online course, I have watched day one of a 30 day beginners workout…that was about a month ago! I know I will eventually take that first step again as you did and will be so happy once I do…so I find your post very inspiring!! Hope you’re still running…go Fleck go… 🙂
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Thank you so much for your kind comments! Get out there and enjoy it! 🙂
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Good on you! Feels good, doesn’t it 🙂
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It does! Thank you for stopping by – Admittedly I’ve neglected my little blog lately but am hoping to get back in to it soon!
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And they are on the hunt so they just try…
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