Why do you run?

One of the things that makes our group unique is that it really doesn’t matter how fast or slow you are, how short or far you go, or what you do outside of your running gear.

In this crazy world of politics, myself currently listening to the impeachment hearing going on stateside, is it doesn’t matter who you are or what you believe in at RunPals. Anyone is everyone in our Ohana and you’re all welcome to take part - virtually or physically every single week. We try to make everything we do as inclusive as possible for any ability and aim to continue to do so for as long as we exist.

We’re kind of like superhero’s. Woh woh woh... bold claim.... But wait.. Not just because of the fact that some of us enjoy a little bit of Lycra, but because we share our somewhat superhuman strength to inspire the world over.

Wait, what?

I’ve mentioned before that friends have commented from the west coast of the US to the southern tips of Australia and everywhere in between, that they have taken inspiration from our pals stories, to get themselves out and running and /or doing some great things in their community. To get themselves to start looking after themselves. Making positive changes to their lifestyle, to make positive changes to their lives.

Last week I was in Dubai and I was talking to someone all about our lovely pals. This week? They’ve text me that they’ve organised for three of their friends to go out for their first run together - doing their first session on a Tuesday to fall in line with our fun social runday! How cool?!?!

This week, I met an old friend and colleague who couldn’t wait to tell me, before we removed the multiple layers coming in from the -20 Chicago cold, that they completed 500 miles last year, the most they ran for over 30 years let alone in one year! Why? Because of this amazing group. He recalled me telling him about it roughly 12/18 months ago and has since been secretly stalking our progress - to keep pushing himself. What’s he doing in 2020? The Chicago marathon!

Depending on the weather, we’re hoping to go for a run in the morning along Lake Michigan - as long as we have enough layers to deal with the wind chill - I’ve never run with him, but am looking forward to it already.

Not only does that fill me with all sorts of gooey wonderfabulousness to see the positive affect our Ohana has on other people’s lives, it reminds me of why our group is so special.

It doesn’t matter if you’re training for your first marathon or for your fastest PB. Nor does it matter if your only release in the week is to run with your pals for the 60 minutes that you have spare.

All that really matters to me, what’s really important, is that you enjoy it, whatever your goal.

We have a lot of pals chasing down personal bests at the moment with some achieving incredible time changes as they push forward their training. But, we also have pals that are just stoked to leave their front door. I’m not joking - some of you are just happy to be there with your pals, running in our wonderfabulous community, with no sh£/s given about times, and I think that is amazing. Our pals come from all walks of life where everyone has their own challenges, yet that gets forgotten about at the RunPals virtual door and you all run together.

It’s easy to get complacent about what we do at RunPals and about how we “should” progress or evolve as a group as we continue to grow. But then it wouldn’t be RunPals if we conformed to a ‘standard’ way of doing things, so to be reminded of why we do what we do, it’s important. It’s important for me to reflect on where we are and where we want to go (cue picture of me stood in front of reflective bean) and how in true RunPals spirit, no pal is left behind. It’s an incredibly hard thing to manage, to ensure we are inclusive for all, but week after week I need not stress. You all do exactly that, in supporting each other, no matter for individual goals.

My rambling point?

There was a poster I shared last week, it read; ‘Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.’

Whilst I believe that captures a lot of the spirit of RunPals - have you seen us all at parkrun?! 😉 - I think it also was a great reminder for me of how every single pal in our group is the same, but different. We want to run together, but we each have our own ‘PB’s’. Just because your time isn’t shaving off seconds every week of your parkrun, for example, it doesn’t matter. Well, let me correct myself, if that doesn’t matter to you, then it really doesn’t matter to anyone else too! And that’s why I love our pals - they’ll cheer for you no matter what!

Write down why you run. Focus on that and we hope to help keep you going with our wonderfabulous Ohana.

Rant over. It’s 3am. Jet lag sucks. I’m going back to bed.

Aloha