Monday Motivation-Running....a LIfetime

I have seen this quote several times over the past several months and have always been inspired by it.  It inspires me to push myself and push my body's limits recognizing that I won't always have the legs to do just that!  Yesterday this message came to me in the form of a kind, older man who was on the treadmill next to me.  I chose to run 16 miles on the mill (and then proceed to poke my eyes out) since the morning was not just cold but filled with black ice.  With only 1 week until my race I was not taking that risk of slipping not so gracefully across the street!  Anyway...I got off track.  So this man strikes up a conversation with me about running.  I usually am polite but don't talk all that much at the gym....I go in, do my thing, and leave.  However I'm so thankful for taking the time to talk with this man.  He was all of 5'2" and began telling me stories of back in the day when running was at it's height.  He was over 70 years old now but as soon as we started talking about races, he got a twinkle in his eye reminiscing about running with Johnny Kelley and Bill Rodgers...you know "before they were a big deal".  He talked to be for 50 minutes about racing and speed, 100 mile weeks and junk miles, running before the "fancy stuff".  We talked about families and injuries and how he has had a knee replaced now in his older age.  Through it all though he had that gleam in his eye that I recognized...running is something that gets inside you.  Through the good and bad runs...year after year it still lights you up!  He inspired me to keep that spark going while helping me get through 50 minutes of my run.  He clean his treadmill off and wished me luck on my race and left me with the words, "Keep running!"  I certainly will....thank you!