Late summer 2012, Coach Matt came to my workplace and did a presentation on the Genesis training program. I watched and listened intently; I took the handouts he provided. The fall session started a few weeks later and I did not sign up. I wasn't ready for the physical and mental discipline of being a runner. I kept telling myself I couldn't add another thing to my to-do list. I was already watching what I was eating, trying to excel at my job, and trying to maintain a good, happy home for my husband and our feline child. How much can one person endure? I kept saying maybe next time.
The next session was the 2013 spring session sign up...I had made the decision that I was ready to try it. I thought it was something that would benefit myself and those around me.
The first night of training, I was absolutely terrified; I was excited at the same time. I had read the success stories over and over and kept thinking to myself, I can't do this. I'm somewhat of a shy person and the thought of being around so many people just made the doubts that much worse. I felt everyone would judge me by how slow I was. That was not the case. Everyone was friendly and encouraging. We were all in this together.
That night, Coach said part of running is in your mind. Believe in yourself, be deliberate in your training. I kept telling myself, you signed up for ten weeks; you will be deliberate the ten weeks. We started running for sixty seconds and I thought I was going to die; I then thought, yes, I can do this. I CAN do this; I WILL do this. Over the weeks, it got much easier. I started to build endurance, I started to build strength, I built my faith, and I started to improve my character. Somewhere around the midway point at the "hope run" I knew I was going to do it. I was going to be a runner.
I look back now and am amazed at the progress I have made training with the Genesis group. During the summer of 2013, I started running after not running for 25+ years; I have ran two 5k races, one quarter marathon, and I'm proud to say I'm training for the CDR 5k in a few weeks with my Genesis class as a graduate.
The feeling when you get to the start line, and when you cross the finish line is like no other. The emotion that overcomes you is amazing. You feel accomplished, you feel blessed. It doesn't matter how fast you go, it matters that you have the courage to start and the discipline to train. Hope does not disappoint.
I am proud to say I am a runner.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
- 2 Timothy 4:7
Felicia
The next session was the 2013 spring session sign up...I had made the decision that I was ready to try it. I thought it was something that would benefit myself and those around me.
The first night of training, I was absolutely terrified; I was excited at the same time. I had read the success stories over and over and kept thinking to myself, I can't do this. I'm somewhat of a shy person and the thought of being around so many people just made the doubts that much worse. I felt everyone would judge me by how slow I was. That was not the case. Everyone was friendly and encouraging. We were all in this together.
That night, Coach said part of running is in your mind. Believe in yourself, be deliberate in your training. I kept telling myself, you signed up for ten weeks; you will be deliberate the ten weeks. We started running for sixty seconds and I thought I was going to die; I then thought, yes, I can do this. I CAN do this; I WILL do this. Over the weeks, it got much easier. I started to build endurance, I started to build strength, I built my faith, and I started to improve my character. Somewhere around the midway point at the "hope run" I knew I was going to do it. I was going to be a runner.
I look back now and am amazed at the progress I have made training with the Genesis group. During the summer of 2013, I started running after not running for 25+ years; I have ran two 5k races, one quarter marathon, and I'm proud to say I'm training for the CDR 5k in a few weeks with my Genesis class as a graduate.
The feeling when you get to the start line, and when you cross the finish line is like no other. The emotion that overcomes you is amazing. You feel accomplished, you feel blessed. It doesn't matter how fast you go, it matters that you have the courage to start and the discipline to train. Hope does not disappoint.
I am proud to say I am a runner.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
- 2 Timothy 4:7
Felicia