Inspiration...

With hard work and dedication, anything is possible...

Years ago I met a young lady who knew the importance of working out. She made going to the gym part of her weekly routine and spent the vast majority of her time on the treadmill. Her "cardio" routine typically consisted of run 1 mile, walk 1/4 mile, run 1 mile, walk 1/4 mile, run 1 mile. I asked her one day if she had ever run 3 miles without walking in-between and she said, "No, I'm not a runner." Time passed and seasons changed but for whatever reason, her workout routine did not. Being an avid runner myself, one who prefers the lakefront to anywhere, I asked why she had never moved her "cardio" workout outdoors. Her quick response was, "The lakefront is for 'serious' runners." Identifying this as a challenge, I made it a point to not only motivate her to run 3.5 miles non-stop, but for her to have some fun with it; to get outside and enjoy a change of scenery...

Shortly thereafter, Spring arrived in Chicago. So I put my best foot forward and persuaded her to hit the lakefront for a jog. I can't recall which particular run it was, but that Spring, the switch flipped. That summer, her runs got longer, she no longer stopped to walk in-between miles, and she made it a priority whenever possible to run outside. That Fall, I joked with her, "You've become a runner." Her response, "I like running"!

It's been six years since "that" summer and with hard work and dedication our one-time 'non-runner' has completed 3 marathons and numerous shorter races! Last year, she broke her Marathon PR running the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon in 3 hours 47 minutes (averaging 8.6 minutes per mile)!

Do YOU have a goal that you just can't seem to reach? If so, then ask yourself..."Am I a 'non-runner' OR have I just not put in the necessary hard work and dedication?"