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Through Heather's Looking Glass

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What Running Has Taught Me About Life

May 31, 2012 | fitness, Mental Health, motivation, running, tips, Uncategorized

Running has taught me some amazing things about life. Running is good for the body, the mind, and the soul. When I started my running journey, I never dreamed it would teach me so much more than how to stay fit.

–They can’t all be good days

I have a lot of good runs, but I also have a lot of really crappy ones. The bad ones make me appreciate the great ones. The same is true of life. We can’t all have good days every day or mountaintop experiences all the time. Make sure you take the time to stop and appreciate the good ones when they come, and know how to properly handle the bad ones.

–Hard work pays off

Running is hard. You aren’t going to be an overnight success. If you want to be better, you have to train harder. Life is hard. If you want to advance in your career, make friends, pick up a new hobby, you have to put in the effort if you want results. Easier said than done, I know!

–No matter what just keep putting one foot in front of the other

I always think of the movie Finding Nemo, when Dory sings the “Just Keep Swimming” song. I have sang this song to myself many times during races! There are days when I don’t even want to face all the tasks I have to do that day. But just like in running, I can get somewhere if I just put one foot in front of the other. When the big picture is overwhelming, just take it one step, one day, at a time.

–Don’t compare yourself with anyone but yourself, because there will always be someone better than you

This is a huge thing for me in running, blogging, and in life. In our society there is such a push to have the next best thing your friends or neighbors have. We rarely seem to be content in our own gifts and abilities, toys and careers. I race against myself, and in life, I try to be thankful and content, and not envious or jealous (in a bad way).

–Sometimes there will be heartache and pain as you chase your dreams

Dreams and goals are wonderful to have, but we were never promised life would be easy. But usually, the hardest things to get through or to, are the ones worth fighting for. Run hard and fight to reach your goals as an athlete. Fight hard and push through the pains of life as you chase your dreams.

–Appreciate the talents and abilities I have been given, I am truly blessed

I may not be the fastest runner out there (ok, I KNOW I’m not!) But I am so blessed that I can get out of bed every morning and even go for a run. Or drive myself places, or talk to my family. Don’t take your talents for granted, and take some time to think about all the things you are grateful for.

–Never. Give. Up. You can do anything you set your mind to.

This one speaks for itself. Never in a millions years would I have dreamed I would be chosen by Women’s Magazine as a “Blogger on the Run”. I am humbled, and so proud of myself. I have stretched and grown, and been given some amazing opportunities I never would have gotten if I had not learned some amazing life lessons from running. It truly is a wonderful teacher.

Please do me a huge favor and go over to the blog and check out my feature as blogger on the run!There is something in it for you, too! To celebrate the magazine’s 50th issue, they are giving away some great prizes, so you can comment on my feature/post and be entered to win an entire outfit from Asics! Sweet!

A huge thank you to Women’s Running Magazine for this great honor!!

QOTD: What has running taught you about life?

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Comments

  1. Tiff @ Love Sweat & Beers says

    May 31, 2012 at 7:09 am

    Great post! I’m totally tweeting this. 🙂 I didn’t have the best run today, but since I’m slowly coming back from injury (very slowly), I’m still happy.

  2. Lisa @ RunWiki says

    May 31, 2012 at 7:30 am

    What a lovely post! I could not agree more. Congratulations on being “Blogger on The Run” you are most worthy of the honor.

  3. Heather (Where's the Beach) says

    May 31, 2012 at 7:35 am

    Love this post. I always say that running is very much like life. You have the good days and the bad days and it’s really about how you deal with them. You live, learn, and move along.

  4. Heather says

    May 31, 2012 at 7:45 am

    This is great – congrats!

  5. Tara Burner says

    May 31, 2012 at 7:51 am

    most awesome post and congrats!!!!

  6. Jen says

    May 31, 2012 at 8:01 am

    Looooove this post! Completely agree. Awesome about the magazine! Congrats 🙂

  7. Carissa says

    May 31, 2012 at 8:15 am

    Congrats girl! That’s fantastic! Running has taught me that we all have different battles and if you worry too much about what other people are doing then you can’t run your own race. Appreciate your body and your speed!

  8. Mindy Bobe says

    May 31, 2012 at 9:08 am

    Awesome post Heather! Running really becomes a part of your life and like all things it has its ups and downs. Congrats on being the blogger on the run!!! So awesome!!!

  9. crystal says

    May 31, 2012 at 12:27 pm

    You rock! Look how far you’ve come since Jan 2009! 🙂

  10. PavementRunner says

    May 31, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    First things first, you are like 87 feet in the air in that jumping photo? WTH?!? Running has taught you to have SUPER JUMPING SKILLS apparently.

    Great post and congrats on everything that running has brought to your life. Keep running strong.

    • Heather says

      May 31, 2012 at 2:35 pm

      It’s all my mad ups from all those years playing basketball. I ALWAYS did jump ball. 🙂

  11. Shannon Clark says

    June 1, 2012 at 7:06 am

    I love the one where you talk about not comparing yourself to others! I am a very slow runner, but it doesn’t matter because I’m a runner and back in December I was not. 🙂

    Shannon
    http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com

  12. Joelle says

    June 1, 2012 at 9:04 am

    What an awesome post. And congrats! I saw you on their page before I saw this page!!! That’s so cool!

  13. @twinsistersrun says

    June 1, 2012 at 9:20 am

    Great post! 🙂

  14. Amanda @ Happy Mother Runner says

    June 1, 2012 at 11:54 pm

    Congrats! This is so awesome!

  15. Emily says

    June 4, 2012 at 2:14 pm

    Very beautiful post! I use Dory’s “Just Keep Swimming” mantra all the time! And a good reminder not to fall into the comparison trap. Everyone is running their own race.

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I am Heather Montgomery, a 30 something southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 10-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
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