This past Sunday I ran the Mohawk Hudson 1/2 marathon. It was a beautiful day for a run. My husband dropped Sharon and I off at the start and we headed inside to stay warm finding Nanette and Sue (all pictured here). It is always fun to hang out before the race as you see people you expect to see and some you haven't seen in a while (like Holly in visiting from Mass). Right after the start our group broke up and I headed off. I caught up with Wendy - I chatted with her about her husband's 50th surprise party and how much sangria she had consumed on Saturday! After telling her a PR was still in the mix I forged ahead. I ran with a few others before crossing the finish line. Along the way there were plenty of spectators and I heard my name called a few times. It is always uplifting to hear that and have the kids high five you along the route. As always there were some awesome signs on the course and fun water stops. After I crossed the finish line a woman came up to me. She looked familiar, but I wasn't sure why. She said 'hi Kristen' and proceeded to remind me that a few years back we had run a good part of the marathon together. I remembered she was a nurse, but had to ask her name. 'Krista' one would think I could remember that! Anyway she said something I had said stuck with her and she thought about it during all her races. She was pretty jazzed as she had just PR'd her 13.1 at the age of 51!! Our marathon conversation was about qualifying for Boston, our careers, and of course our age. I feel strongly that age is just a number. I told the ladies I was with that it didn't matter how 'old' we were what mattered was how we felt. If we felt we could do a fast marathon then that is our reality. We were all about the same age. After mile 14 we had drifted apart. By then Tammy was running with me and keeping me going (always helps to have the young chicks pushing you through). I saw Krista again at the finish and she was signing up for Boston.
Back to Sunday at the half marathon. Krista said she always thought about how I had said that age was just a number. She was on a serious running high that at 51 she had run a 1:39 half marathon and beaten her best time from over 20 years earlier! It was so uplifting to hear that something I said has motivated this woman during her workouts and races. Her joy at her accomplishment filled me as well and made my day just a little bit better. Remember words matter. What you say can lift someone's day. They can carry them through a tough workout or just motivate them to stay on track. Age is JUST a number and I am 33 :-)
BTW - Wendy ran a PR :-)
Back to Sunday at the half marathon. Krista said she always thought about how I had said that age was just a number. She was on a serious running high that at 51 she had run a 1:39 half marathon and beaten her best time from over 20 years earlier! It was so uplifting to hear that something I said has motivated this woman during her workouts and races. Her joy at her accomplishment filled me as well and made my day just a little bit better. Remember words matter. What you say can lift someone's day. They can carry them through a tough workout or just motivate them to stay on track. Age is JUST a number and I am 33 :-)
BTW - Wendy ran a PR :-)
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