Lisa Sabin’s - Running And Being

Running has been part of my life since high school. I have always enjoyed solitude and time to mull things over. Running has gotten me through both good times and bad times. I love the sense of freedom it gives me. I often celebrate birthdays by going out for a long run. I celebrated my 30th birthday by running my first marathon in Portland in 1995.

Running is the test that I pass. When the race is tough and I push through the wall, I feel strong. It gives me confidence to try other things. I’ve been humbled by running. In life there are no guarantees, I can’t always count on my body to perform. I’ve had to learn to go with the flow. Rest and recovery are equally as important as training. It’s not possible to run a personal best each time I race. I’ve ran races where I trained properly and felt prepared. Yet on race day something has gone wrong. It could be the weather, hydration, elevation, or just not my day. So much of running is mental. I’ve had days where I expect to perform at a certain level, and when I find that I am not, I’m disappointed. Every time I’m out there I question why am I doing this? But when I finish, I find myself planning the next race.

Running is my connection to other people. As a coach and a personal trainier I get the opportunity to help someone else reach their goal. I know the dedication it takes to run. I know what it’s like to have that sense of accomplishment. I know what it’s like to test yourself mentally and physically. Sharing that with others is amazing and a lot of fun.

Sometimes I don’t know why I run. Is it a compulsion? A habit? An addiction? Maybe, all of the above. All I know is that it’s the one thing I do for myself and that’s a good thing.