Amy Lu's View

It’s Global Running Day, and I’m not running today.

This feels a little wrong, but it’s my regularly scheduled rest and recovery day. I definitely need this respite between a half marathon and a an upcoming full marathon and after a night of a vertigo attack (yes, dramatic but I like it).

Plus, not running gives more time to think, and write, about running.

To misapproriate a quote, “All I Really Need to Know About Running I Learned in the Girls on the Run 5K.” I recently got to be an adult “running buddy” for Abby, an awesome 4th grader, and this experience certainly gave me much inspirational pondering and writing fodder.

Girls on the Run is an amazing organization that “…inspires girls to take charge of their lives and define the future on their terms” with an emphasis on healthy movement.

That’s pretty good advice for women, girls, and people, of all ages.

In regards to running, the philosophy of the 5K (I’m paraphrasing) was “Do your best, have fun, and feel good!” Also a really good perspective on life and running.  I especially need this perspective for the upcoming Grandma’s Marathon as I’m freaking out about my interupted training plan and possible vertigo episodes.

Of course, “best,” “fun” and “good” have layers of meaning and will look pretty different for me as a 48-year-old doing a marathon, but the underlying principles are the same. I need to keep the bigger picture in mind and be thankful for what I can do, appreciate the unique experience of the run, and not get too wrapped up in my performance stats.

The Girls on the Run 5K also gave me the most inspriational finishing line experience ever.

Abby ran (mostly walking with bouts of sprinting) the whole race with her friend, who started lagging at the finish. As we approached the finish, Abby ran back, grabbed her friend’s hand and my hand, and her friend grabbed her running buddy’s hand, and all four of us crossed the finish line together holding hands.

Yes, your heart should have just exploded in an overdose of inspirational cuteness.

And yes, I definitely have some room for growth when it comes to basking in the community of my fellow runners and celebrating the success of others. I may be a titch competitive, and can really learn from Abby’s example of friendship and support. I’m so thankful that I have my Facebook running group to let me bask in the inspiration and support of others and to practice my community-building muscles.

Chad and I actually did finish a half marathon (The Get in Gear) together holding hands…and a spectating dude yelled out, “You know, one of you is still going to win.”

We would definitely all win if we tried to live up to the example of 4th grade girls.