Run With Your Heart

I started reading a book called "UltraMarathon Man" by Dean Karnazes over the weekend. It's funny, well-written, & completely inspiring. I don't want to give away too much of the book, so I won't go into much detail. However, my favorite chapter so far is called "Run With Your Heart." It's taken from a lesson one of his coaches in high school told him.



This morning while I was out for my 5am 3-mile run, I had pieces of the book I read running through my head. I realized as I was nearing the 2.5 mile mark that I wasn't winded, my muscles weren't aching, and my legs weren't tired. I realized, I could push myself a little harder & keep running past the 3 miles I've been doing all week. The four words "Run with your heart" reverberated through me. Around mile 4 I was beginning to feel the run. By the time I made it back home, I had ran 5 miles without breaking to walk or catch my breath. New distance record for myself. Getting ever closer to the halves in October & December.

But this mornings run made "run with your heart" real for me. I wasn't running with my mind...not concentrating on the fact that I was facing a 9-hour work day. Not concentrating on the fact that I got 6 hours of sleep the night before. To me, running with your mind is concentrating on all the things you could be/would rather be doing. I wasn't running with just my body. I ran with my heart. I focused on what the race in December will be like. I thought about those who can't run. I guess I got a little sentimental & sappy out there, but I ran with my heart. I remembered why I'm getting up at 5 am to run & train. And, with everything in me, I promise, it made all the difference.

I'm absolutely loving this book. Definitely a must read! Get it HERE.

To learn more about Dean Karnazes, check out his site UltraMarathon Man.