I haven’t posted in a while, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been pondering what to write!
It wasn’t until yesterday when I realized something very important when it comes to running. I was running the Paddy Kelly 5 miler in Brockton, MA and it was hard. However, at every point of the race, there was someone cheering me on and clapping for me. That little bit of motivation helps to push you when you don’t think you’ll make it further.
Much like Alan in The Hangover, I had considered myself much like a one-man wolfpack when it came to racing. I attended almost all of my 5k races last summer by myself, and was content with that. I was racing for myself anyways and I accepted that. This year however, I have added more people to my wolfpack and I now realize how much it can be to make running a social activity.
At the end of last year I joined The Greater New Bedford Track Club after running their Spooner Spooky race last October. I had a couple friends who were apart of the club and I figured it’d at least be a great way to network with runners in the area. It’s also a great way to stay connected to the Southcoast and my favorite part of Massachusetts where I grew up.
I also found a key person for running, my running partner. You can say you either HAVE to run with someone to stay motivated or you don’t like to run with a buddy, but at some point as a runner, you have that best friend to talk about running with. My running partner is my friend Kristina. We both found running in different ways, but are on similar paths and can relate to each other. She keeps me motivated by finding different races to run all over the place and I am also her cheerleader when I see her consistent efforts towards her goals.
Having a support system of any kind when it comes to working out and running is absolutely key for success. As much as I didn’t mind running by myself in the beginning, there is nothing better than having someone to share the excitement, hard work and accomplishments with.
Who is your cheerleader in your life? Thank them for always being there!
Hi Katelyn, I am just starting running and have registered for my first 5k. I’m not trying to get a good time or anything but it sounds like a ton of fun. I’m running the Color Run in the twin cities. You should check out their website to see if they go to Boston or where you are. Check out http://www.thecolorrun.com it should be a real hoot! Lol
That’s awesome! My friend and I actually wanted to do that one too! We were thinking about doing the NYC one because that is the closest one to us. That will be a VERY fun race to do for your first one. My first 5k was the Fairhaven Father’s Day road race and it was special to me because every year since I was a baby, my family and I would go and cheer on the runners. It’s not about the finishing time, but rather about just finishing! I keep track of the times so I can always improve on my personal best. Let me know how that race turns out! I’d love to hear more about it.