Put One Foot In Front of the Other

Kensington Park. Where I hope to run tomorrow with my new running friend Rachael.

On our way back to London I’m struck by how lonely I am.  And how terrified.

My friends tell me how brave I am.

“For going to London by yourself.  I could never do that.” That is what they tell me.

Kind of like running for the first time. 

You have made the decision to run.  But you don’t really understand at the time that the decision will be life altering.

“Run a 5 km, 10 km half marathon or marathon yourself.  I could never do that.”

And yet you do it.  You find a running clinic.  Or you buy a book about running.  And you teach yourself to run.  Or you have a wonderful woman like Esther teaching you to run.  You learn things about yourself that you didn’t know.  You find out you have a strength you didn’t know you had.

There you are.  On your way to something that will change you forever.

You will be talking to your new friends, because you will make new friendships.  The merits of climatech versus wicking clothing will become hot topics amongst your new friends.  And your old friends will ask questions about the difference between stability shoes and trail shoes.

Without realizing it, you will develop a whole new vocabulary of cool words.  Like fartlek and splits and preregistration.

And you won’t be so lonely.  Or terrified because you find out that you CAN do it. A 5 km race or flying by yourself across a huge ocean.