My fellow (non running) 20-somethingers,
You give me crap for my training. You mock my eating habits. You make comments to others about how I'm "crazy" or "weird" for pushing myself so hard. You view my hobby as a flaw. I have been quiet too long. So listen up. I have something to say:
This morning, I ran 16 miles and stretched, showered and ate before you were able to stumble out of bed and find two aspirin and a glass of water. I felt clean and victorious this morning. How do you feel?
Your mid week excitement is happy hour at the local watering hole. Mine is running with the Ohana or a long bike ride at sunset.
You collect notches on your belt. I collect finishers medals.
So, am I missing out? You bet I am. I am missing out on hungover mornings, weekends wasted, and saying "someday....."
Because when you look back on your 20s, you are going to wish you took full advantage of the healthy, strong body God gave you. You are going to look back on this time and have nothing but regrets. Me, I'll have none.
There will be a day when you can no longer do this. Today is NOT that day. RUN.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
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57 comments:
I hear ya! I started training and racing triathlons 13 years ago when I was 21. Since then, my weekends have always been about when/where are we riding on Saturday morning rather than where the party is at Friday night. I love my training life! :)
Here here! Not only does training make healthier, but it also gives us the ability to have a crazy Friday night every once in a while without any guilt.
I wouldn't change my training/priorities for the world!
You said it, FL! you have a mental toughness and overall fierceness (borrowed that from my favorite project runway winner ever) that those people who call you crazy will never know.
Great post F.L.! Never mind those that do not understand. Never mind those that think you are crazy because you care about your health, and Never mind those that cannot talk anymore after 500 meters in an extremely slow pace...
The "someday..." people that keep mocking runners are the first to be ignored.
I started running 18 months ago and I regret not having started earlier. I love knowing what I eat and eating healthy food (I love that healthy food can be delicious).
Living healthily is a way of showing respect for life.
Amen, sister! I wish I'd kept up with the running when I was in my 20s. I had stopped & didn't start back up again until 2 years ago. Now I wonder how much I've missed because of it.
Congrats on a victorious 16 miles :)
This is why I mostly just hang out with fellow runners :-) Also the other superbonus is that only few of them are associated with the university so no one asks me about my research so I get to escape science for a bit...
Great stuff. This post is so YOU and so true. You are living your life and tackling challenges the way it should be done, balls-out and Frayed Laces style, with no regrets. You are clearly blazing the path, ummm trail, in life that was meant for you.
You rock. AWESOME!!!!
well said, i agree!
oooooooooo That ROCKS!!
Couldn't say it any better, except I am not in my 20's. This applies to my fellow 30-somethings too, so I am in complete agreement. No matter what, you are what you do and eventually will come to realize this to be the absolute truth. I know plenty of people who sit on the couch, drink, eat crap, and still self-identify as athletes from some former life or twisted image of what they really want to be. Keep on truckin'!
It should also be said that while the day will when you can't do this, it will be long after those that don't live this lifestyle have gotten old, sore, and immobile. I am middle of the pack 43 year old runner and even I frequently have the experience of blowing by a doughy 20 something who has obviously not been living a fitness oriented lifestyle. It's obviously good that they are out there running the race, but there is much more to it than that. If someone old enough to be their father can easily leave them in the dust when they are 22, what will things be like for them when they are 32?
Amen sister! And you should be proud of yourself. You know they're only jealous!
Wooo! Awesome! You have already learned what takes most people YEARS to grasp - you only get one body in life...either use it for good, or let it waste away.
You rock girl! :-)
Yesss! Just know that I'm giving you a virtual 'raise the roof' right now :)
You freakin' rock, FL!!!! I love it! Consider yourself one of the lucky ones! Life is not passing you by...
AMEN! This is my last year in the 20's and I only wish I had started sooner, especially BEFORE I had kids LOL
LOL, where were you 8 years ago ;-). I wish I had these words chiming in my head before wasting the better part of my 20's chasing the pints.
My friends make comments to me all the time about my eating, my not drinking and my running schedule...thanks for taking a stand for us all!
YO! i just read your comment quote in Runner's World. You're famous :) I recognized it right away, hehe, and then the "Honolulu" confirmed it for me. Yay :)
Well said, well written and you are well on your way to having the best life possible....be a leader, not a follower!
from your much older "sista"
It always makes me SO proud when I am getting back from a weekend run and my friends are just waking up hungover. I love Heather Small's song "Proud" ("what have you done today to make you feel proud?") on weekend runs for just that reason :)
Great post. Where were you when I was a non running 20-something? I could have used a nudge back then.
My husband is a runner and even HE gives me a hard time about going to bed early when I'm training. So happy to see that there are others like me.
well said... i am 100% about living in the moment and taking advantage while i can -- i came close to not being able to... you're just one of the lucky and smart ones that have realized this before it's too late. :)
Very well said!
Here, here.
Glad to hear you stand up for what is good and right.
Wish I had been as dedicated when I was in my 20s and you have been.
I started in my late 20s but, wish I would have continued running after I graduated from high school.
Trying to get my students to see the value in good clean living with exercise. Keep it up.
I hate to say that I was not as dedicated as you on my early 20's. I started running constantly when I turned 27.
Boy, I look at some pictures back when I was on my early 20's and realize, that yeah...I needed to run back then!!!. Luckily, you figure it out before I did!!
Keep on running!!
web.me.com/amaurydeleon
Amen! I wholeheartedly agree with Marcy's comment minus the kids part since I don't have any. ;)
WOW! That should be an ad. LOVE IT!! Sounds kind of like the Runners High quote a buddy of mine came up with... Runners High: The arrogance of knowing I’ve accomplished more in one morning than you will all day.
Have a great week.
Yeah, I lived that life in my 20's too. Now in my 30's I look back and realize how much better I could be now if I had taken better care of myself then. I respect my body so much more now, and I think that is the real lesson.
LOVE this post....
Well done! If only I had started running while in my 20s.... oh well, I get to do it in my 30s too, but with more aches and pains to build character :-) I wouldn't mind turning back the clock to my 20s though!
Phenomenal post FL. Absolutely spot on.
Right on. Well said!
awesome post!!! completely agree with you :)
OH man girl you hit the nail on the head with this one. Sometimes (or most of the time...) this is exactly how I feel about life.
I never regretted running instead of getting wasted the night before...why do people not understand this???
You said what I've been thinking for a while now - thanks for putting fingers to keyboard for me! Reminds me of my half marathon in the Mojave Desert this summer while my friends were at the Hard Rock Hotel pool in Vegas...they didn't understand and quite possibly never will :)
Great post!
That was AWESOME! I have had this argument with so many other friends that I have just given up on it.
Awesome post! I often feel the same way!
Well said! Wish someone would have said this to me 15-20 years ago. I might be fast now.
You nailed it sista! Good news is, forty is NOT too late :-)
Wonderful post FL!! You said it perfectly even for those over 20 or even 30!!! Thanks for this!!!
I just came across your blog thanks to Jess. What a wonderful post. That can totally sum up how I feel at times. For sure. I am glad I stumbled across your blog!
HAHA! That's so freakin' true. My friends think I'm nuts! I don't stay out late because I get up early to run, I don't drink much since it affects my times and generally how I feel, and the non-runners just don't get it. They don't. They think I'm missing out, but I don't regret a minute of it.
Great blog and post. :)
Amen to that! I made a link from my blog to this post! I couldn't have said it better!!
oh, You got that right. By the time you get into your thirties (like me, 33), you can even kick it up to triathlons and keep laughing at all the drunkards and slobs. and smokers! don't forget to laugh at the smokers.
great post! i wish i had discovered my inner athlete when i was your age. but better late than never.
you got it going on girl - not missing a thing!!
A-freaking-men! There are a lot of 30-somethings out there that I've come across. Very well said!
Bravo, sister runner! I may have to write a companion piece for all of the moms and dads out there who claim not to have time to run.
I couldn't agree more. Jen S. told me I should read your blog. I have many friends that say much of the same thing. You are right on and it is great to see someone say it. Sounds like you have a crazy yet fun life.
Wonderful post!!! I get so tired of hearing people yap about how I train too much or eat like a chump.
The difference between them and us? We never say someday.
Fist pump YEAH!
Double AMEN! I regret the early days where I valued partying over everything else. Yes, I may still be addicted to something, but thank goodness it's healthy for me!
My friends sort of gave me a complex when I quit drinking... they were dumbfounded. But seriously, I hate wasting a day to hangovers. UGH.
Amen to this post!
This. Is. Awesome. I absolutely love it and agree 100%.
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