Running from regret

Running means different things to different people. I’ve decided to feature a few guest blogs that feature two runners with different goals from mine (Boston Marathon). 

The first guest blog was written by my lovely wife, Rachel Huntington. We live in the same household and have run every race together but our goals and reasons to run are different. 

Running from regret 

It is my belief that most people live with some sort of regret. Maybe it is the one who got away or a wrong career choice. For me, my biggest regret is not joining the cross country team in high school. 

Perhaps it is because I grew up in a household that lacked encouragement. It is my belief that young kids need an extra push and support to do activities that seem intimidating at first.  Mix that with a dash of no confidence and I’ve baked up an excuse. However, I do personally take responsibility for the choices that I have made in my life. 

Throughout the years I would run here and there outside. Once I got to college, I joined the campus workout facility and would pepper running into my workouts. A friend in college even encouraged me to do my first 5k; The Putnam Love Run at UW-Eau Claire. My goal was not to finish last. There were still seven people that finished behind me so I felt good. I still sport that tee shirt!

College graduation led to the real world. I put on over 25 pounds after graduation. There came a day where I had to make a change. With the help of Weight Watchers, a supportive husband and a running routine, I lost 50 pounds and was making my way through various 5k races around the Milwaukee area. 

I remember running my first Sausage 5k Race at Miller Park. After the first mile I thought, this is so dumb. Why am I doing this to myself? My answer came at the finish line. I quickly became addicted to that feeling of accomplishment which would lead to bigger and better things ahead. 

Bigger and better things did come out of all those races. As of today, I’ve completed four marathons, eight half marathons and multiple handfuls of 5, 8, 10 and 15ks. 

I am confident enough to know that I have endurance. In the past few years, I’ve asked a lot from my body and it has been pretty good to me. One thing I lack though is speed.  

Some of blame can be laid on my IT band pain which was the reason my husband posted an IT band stretch tutorial on this blog. That did put a wrench in my running because I worried that pushing too hard would lead to a more serious injury. I did not want to end up side lined from running even if that meant finishing a race dead last.  

A less serious man once said, “If you ain’t first, you last.” Anyone who finishes a run is a winner in my book. However, I forget this when I compare myself to faster runners. 

I am on a local running team with many talented runners. Being a part of this team is great because other runners’ stories inspire me. There are parents who fit running into their crazy schedules and others who log more miles than I can comprehend. 

The best part about this team is that it is open to all runners. It almost makes me feel as if I am a part of that cross country team that I avoided in high school. Sometimes I get frustrated because I am one of the slowest runners on the team. However, I have a great network of support and encouragement that keeps me running.