Coach Rebecca

I have asked the question of why would I want to start coaching, but I as have thought about things (kind of scary when this happens) why do I run? Why do I push my body to feelings of uncomfortable? Why do I wake up early, watch what I eat, and spend money to participate in races?

I think we all question ourselves sometimes. Why do I run? I have always run, started in elementary school, continued in middle school, actually could have had a decent future in the sport, and then stopped running competitively in high school, but I continue to play soccer. I could place blame on many different people as to why I stopped running but really it comes down to me. I, as most high school students, struggled to find who I was. Sometimes looking back, I wished I had made different decisions but it too late now, as I have learned as I get older, there is no sense in focusing on what you cannot change.

Why do I continue to run? It is often times that allow my head and body to deal with stresses in life. When I can go out for a run and forget about the hundred emails, conflicts during the day, and sometimes the financial challenges most of us face, it becomes worth all of the struggles of the bad days. There are definitely more runs that feel amazing and accomplishing; I don’t want people to think that I don’t enjoy my runs. I love the feeling of starting or ending the day with a comfortable, happy run!

In 2021, I hurt my foot while out running; after a couple of weeks with no improvement I sought out medical attention, it was stress fracture. Unfortunately, it was 100% self-induced related to changes I had made to my nutrition which compromised my body’s ability to handle the miles I was running. Giving up a race and wearing my boot 100% compliant, 8 weeks passed, and I was slowly able to start participating in activity again. I slowly worked my way back to running, nowhere close the level I was before but I was able to finish two marathons. I then decided to address my varicose veins in my legs that were complicating recovery from my long runs. Again, setting my fitness level back, gave up another marathon and have had to continue to overcome challenges related to the procedure.

Why to do I continue to push myself? Because I love being outdoors, escaping the reality of the world, having the feeling of accomplishment, and knowing that even though I have had struggles I can overcome obstacles.

Why do you run?

“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die. Life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly…” Langston Hughes