A running tale

Last Saturday morning I was dancing around the living room with my husband. We were jumping up and down like we were in a nightclub. Only it was 11am on a bright, sunny and freezing Saturday morning. As we swirled around the room, smiling and laughing, he picked me up high in the air, I wrapped my legs around his waist, his hands wrapped around me holding me tight and we kissed. What was all the fuss about? What were we celebrating?

We had just come back from parkrun. Simon had completed his 50th parkrun and I had set my 5th new personal best in under a year. More importantly, it was the 3rd time I've run 5km in under 30mins. Only 6 months ago, when Simon told me I could do it, my response was "I'd love to but I can't see how I can run any faster, I'm at my limit."

Let me clarify one point - I am not competitive and I'm not running to break records. I run because I enjoy it, I love the outdoors, it's effective and time efficient exercise and I feel amazing for hours afterwards. Plus, it's a fun activity that Simon and I can do together and we enjoy in our own ways.

Going back to the point about testing my limits. I remember one hot summer’s day in Bulgaria, many years ago when I was four years old. I was hiking with my family in the beautiful green mountains. After a long and tiring day, I had turned to my dad and said, "Dad, please carry me on your shoulders. I can't walk any longer." He turned to me and said, "Listen dear, if you can't walk any more then run!" He took me by the hand and we ran all the way back down the mountain. I was exhausted but laughed all the way.

30 years later, at my wedding, when my dad told this story in his speech he said, "I wanted her to know that she could do more than she thought." And he was right.

So, find yourselves someone who will stretch you and dare you to go that extra bit further, just like the two most important men in my life have been doing for me over the years.

Let me know who in your life has inspired you to go that extra bit. I'd love to hear your story!

Lots of love,

Mira

If this post has given you some food for thought and you'd like to be supported to strech yourself that bit extra, I'd be delighted to have a chat with you. You can book a free no-obligation consultation and check out our website.

Mira Rutter is a Work-Life Balance Coach at Rutter Coaching, specialising in supporting people to take greater control of their lives and realise their potential so that they can achieve more and feel happy, healthy and fulfilled.