Inspired.

I've been thinking a lot about how to write this experience, but maybe that's the problem. So here goes.

I'm a runner. My knee-jerk reaction after writing that is to qualify it. While I can run and I do it regularly, I consider myself slow--a plodder, if you will. I can plod along for miles, but anything with speed doesn't really work with me. My large thighs reflect both my endurance and slow pace. I'm a ten-minute-mile girl, and I've accepted that about myself. 

A couple weeks ago my family gathered for a reunion. My sister Camille is training to qualify for the Boston Marathon and asked me to go on a run with her. She was running two 7.5 mile loops, and I agreed to go the first half with her with the qualification that we wouldn't go "too fast," and Camille assured me that I'd be fine. 

So we ran. It was a cool morning and a flat course. Camille read out our mile times from her phone as we went. 9:14, 8:48, 8:43, 8:38... was this happening? I, Olivia Swenson, stuck in my ten-minute-mile ways since sixth grade cross country, finished a 7 miler with an average of 8:45-minute miles.

Maybe it's silly to admit, but that run made me realize something very fundamental and incredibly important: I can do so much more than I think I can. This glimpse at my potential has made me realize areas in my life where I am selling myself short. Poo poo, you may say, running caused such an epiphany? Yes, and I am so grateful for it. My incredible (for me) long run and being with my amazing family for a week really helped me see how I can  be better, try harder, serve more. And instead of feeling intimidated, I feel empowered and inspired. 

happy as a clam with Julia at Bug Light