Runner Spotlight: Aimee is Streaking!

I used to work at a national animal welfare organization and met some of the most passionate and dedicated people I’ve ever worked with while there.

I love that Facebook has put me back in touch with a lot of those people — and since I mostly post about running, I tend to reconnect with these people around that topic (shocker, right?).

One such person is my friend Aimee. A Couch to 5K vet, Aimee was looking for a way to jump start her running and get into a more consistent groove with the ultimate goal of completing a 13.1 race in 2014 (a more than attainable goal from where I sit). To do this, she decided to join the Runner’s World Holiday Streak. To participate, one must run at least one mile every day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Seems easy, right? Well it’s not.

My hat’s off to Aimee. I’ve tied to do this every year since I’ve started running and have yet to make it past six days.

Yesterday in honor of her 20th day of Streaking, she posted 20 things she’s learned about running and herself during her streak. To me, it was one of the most inspirational and motivational posts I’ve seen in, well, forever.

So today, I spotlight my friend Aimee and share her list with you in the hopes that it will inspire and motivate your running:

20. I can run farther than I think I can
19. I can run faster than I think I can
18. I can run when I’m sore
17. I can run when it’s cold out/hot out/windy out and so what if it’s cold/hot/windy, big deal
6. I can run in the snow/rain/other inclement weather and so what if I get wet, big deal
15. The treadmill isn’t as bad as I think it is and in fact playing with the settings can be entertaining
14. I can run when I forgot my headband/gloves/fancy socks/lip balm/running bra/etc and I won’t die
13. I can run at night/in the early morning/in the middle of the day/before I eat/after I eat/after drinking (decaf) coffee and I won’t die
12. I can run after a crappy night’s sleep and I won’t die
11. I can run on the first day of my period/with a cold/during a stomach virus and I won’t die (though that one wasn’t fun)
10. I am a MUCH nicer person after a run
9. Life’s crises don’t seem quite so dramatic after a run
8. I don’t have to eat like an Olympic bodybuilder to fuel my run (I have a nutritionist helping me make sure I’m eating enough but not too much) AND being vegan is an advantage, not a disadvantage (don’t believe me about that part? Read about Scott Jurek and you will.)
7. I don’t need to spend $$$$ on fancy “running gear” at Lululemon
6. I like running to cheesy club music
5. My head is my biggest obstacle. Not weather, not schedule, not lack of energy, nothing but my head and the excuses I make to myself.
4. I perform better when I have made a commitment to someone. I will make a million excuses to myself but I will never, ever let someone else think I’m a quitter.
3. I am getting faster and I am getting stronger
2. My neck (with 2 herniated discs) feels looser and more relaxed and less painful after I run
1.I now believe I can do a half-marathon in 2014. Brooklyn Half here I come!