Turn Em Over Coach

SMILE!

"You are a true inspiration and role model in my life. Stay strong and never lose hope. TURN EM OVER COACH."  Mason W. 

This is the first year I haven't coached or assistant coached CC at Holly Academy in 8 years. I coached 5-8th grade, middle schoolers. 

Yesterday, I received 2 messages from former athletes I coached. I absolutely loved coaching. One of my greatest positions I have ever had, next to being a mother. Coaching these kids was more than teaching them the love of running, it was teaching them how running can help navigate you through life. It was coaching their hearts and their minds, teaching them grit, perseverance, team work, compassion, encouragement, and passion to name a few. 

"TURN EM OVER COACH..." 

I hold back the tears as I recite these words Mason sent me yesterday. I can see that boy like yesterday. Big curly locks of hair draping his face. A gentle spirit, always kind and respectful.

Now he is coaching me and my broken body. 

Legs that just don't move like they did. Bones that hurt before I even start to walk for the day. 

I dressed up and headed to the trails reciting his words..."TURN EM OVER COACH". 

The first 10 feet my legs hurt. I questioned myself, quickly removing any thoughts of turning around. 

I told myself to just run, stay steady, run the hills but don't quit. 

All I had to do was keep moving, stay positive and don't look at the watch. 

Time didn't matter. Pace didn't matter. 

I made it to mile 3 when I began to feel the fatigue. The roots were saturated in slippery muck. Leaves scattered across the trail hiding ankle breaking rocks. 

And another hill loomed ahead of me. I counted, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,....UP, UP, UP...

I just caught my breath when the hill went up again. 

"TURN EM OVER..." I barked at myself as if Mason or Brianna were on the sidelines coaching me. 

(Brianna now a senior,  has been checking in on me for years now) 

I never quit, I never gave up. It wasn't pretty, but I did it. I did it for those kids who believed in me as their coach. I dedicate todays run to them. 

Rundown: 

Distance: 5mile

Location: Holdridge, West loop with Lake loop. 

Time: 51minutes.

" Be joyful in hope,patient in affliction,faithful in prayer." 

Romans 12:12

As we are all on pause right now let us not give up hope. these are just little while times. Stay strong. It is in times like these we see what we are all made of.
This my dear is WHY I LOVE RUNNING.
Its doing the hard things. None of us like being uncomfortable. Adversity will build your character.
When I wanted to walk up that hill or skip the Lake Loop I reminded myself to be patient, stay steady and I will finish. It wasn't about pace or time, it was about finishing healthy and with gratitude for each mile.
Sometimes you have to cling to the words of another to inspire you. words of another And pray. Give God all the Glory, stay humble and never giving up.

ROCK ON! I left some Kindness Rocks out on the trail.
Also, I posted virtual miles today to get people out there. We had over cumulative150 miles !!!
Families were sharing miles of running, biking, hiking and even workout like jump roping. WTG everyone!

ANITA~