Coach Bette: We are runners

I am a runner
Some fellow runners go for the win
They train and they strain and then do it again.
But not me, I’d much rather run for swag
The goodies I find in the race event bag.
I’ve got all my medals displayed on a wall
I stay motivated when I look at it all.
The running community is filled with all kinds
None of us settling for the sidelines!

I am a runner
The distance calls me, sometimes by name
I hear it beckon, its insistence to tame.
Why do I do it, run for hours on this dirt?
Something inside me must master the hurt.
I see the mountains, streams, roots and rocks
Challenges to be reckoned with, not roadblocks.
These mountains are full of the trails and miles
Fifty or one hundred, I’ve chosen these trials.

I am a runner
It is sixteen weeks till my date with you
I’ve downloaded or purchased a plan or two.
Each week I have speed work and hills to trek
There are intervals, strides and even fartlek.
My gear will be tested, my fuel swallowed down
The long run each Sunday is my mileage crown.
This is my last rodeo, each season I wager
Until I remember, there’s another Abbott Major!

I am a runner
My kids and mate are number one
Though guilt would ask on every run,
Should I use this time for only me
Each mile I run without family?
Until I see through my commitment
And examples set by this active parent,
I’ve shown the power of setting a goal
Sticking to plans, with heart and soul.

I am a runner
My legs are strong, my heart is too
But do I look like a runner, to you?
What does a runner look like, anyway?
The running apparel and shoe ad display?
Truth is, no runner’s body is wrong or right
Tis desire for movement that gives delight.
For years running has been my release
It continues to be so, my self-image at peace.

I am a runner
A high school and college standout
I knew what first place was all about.
But as I aged, the ribbons faded
And my need to win soon abated.
I no longer run for first or second
I’m in it for the miles that beckon.
A lifetime runner, a true devotee
An end to being measured has set me free.

I am a runner
Excited and ready, our outfits all planned
Our team van painted as all lent a hand.
Finishing the course is never in doubt
Twelve will conquer a 200-mile route.
With vests and headlamps, three legs completed
What a relief when the final at last is greeted.
These distance relays bring us together as one
We run through the night until it is done.

I am a runner
My dream’s to complete a half in every state
I could be a lunatic, but crazy is up for debate.
Maybe all six majors if I can make the cut
And even all seven continents, I’m a travel nut.
We all have goals, and bucket lists to fill
Checking off these races is like running uphill.
You dig in your heels and keep your eye on the top
Until you’re at the apex, the journey doesn’t stop.

I am a runner
I may have no vision, or perhaps can’t hear
Or I remove my legs when bedtime is near.
A buddy might be near my side at a race
Or pushing my chair as we try to keep pace.
The breeze in my hair and the feeling of speed
Is the movement I need to know I am freed.
No different than you, in the ways that matter
I am alive and strong with limits to shatter.

I am a runner
I decided one day to run ‘round the block
I hadn’t run for years; I was in for a shock.
But after a few months, I had made a choice
No longer did I listen to my sofa-spud voice.
Now able to run for three miles of slow pace
Today I signed up for the next 5K race.
I probably won’t win; I don’t run very fast
I don’t care; I’m a runner and having a blast!

Your turn!

What is your running passion? Are you a newbie? A seasoned warrior? An athlete with disabilities?

We all have our story to tell, and most of us are still writing it. So I hope you’ll share yours — I’d love to read about (and potentially share) your own journey with running!

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About our columnist:

Bette Hagerty decided to run a 5K in 1992 after a few months of running around her neighborhood, using her car’s odometer to measure distances. When she found herself among a few hundred people talking about running, she knew she had found her community. Since then she has run several hundred races, from 5K to marathon distance and helped form two running groups.

Bette is an RRCA Certified Running Coach and posts weekly Tuesday workouts on instagram as @BetteRunning. Her passions for running and writing have finally run into each other, and she looks forward to sharing her experiences and knowledge. She welcomes your glowing compliments at [email protected].

Other RaceRaves articles you’ll enjoy (trust us!):

Running on all seven continents
Packing for a destination race
Tagline(s), you’re it: Test your race IQ
Runners Choice: Best Marathons in the U.S.
Best Bets for Boston Marathon Qualifying Races
Introducing your (smart) 50 States Map

And for more helpful articles, check out our blog!

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