Feeling thankful

I spent sometime thinking on Sunday over my 19 mile run. That gave me 2:25:31 to think about a lot of stuff! I first thought about how thankful I was. I was thankful that it finally felt like spring was here. It was a gorgeous day to be outside. I saw tons of other people out running, walking & riding their bikes (It is about that time of year when all of the Spokanites come out of hibernation to start training for Bloomsday). I was thankful about how much easier my long runs have become and how much more fit I am now than I was at this time last year. I am thankful that I have a good job that allows me to sign up for races, travel if necessary to run them, and buy new running shoes and gear when I need it. I am thankful that I have people in my life that believe in me and encourage me. I am thankful for all of the wonderful friends I have made over the last year in the running/blogging community.

I felt really content and peaceful with myself and so grateful that I have been given a gift to run. There are days when I dread a workout or just don't have the motivation to get moving, but then I think about how far I have come and about how much further I want to go. Oddly, I thought about Ben Comen the last couple of miles that I had left of my 19 miler. I was hurting. I was just completing my highest mileage week to date. Running over 50 miles in 7 days is bound to make something hurt (right????). I almost started to complain to myself and then I thought about Ben Comen again and told myself to buck up and keep running with a smile on my face.

If you haven't heard about Ben Comen then you are missing out on a truly inspiring story. I first heard about Ben the other day when Nicole @ I dream of running had his video posted on her facebook page. Ben Comen is my new inspiration and running hero. Ben loves running. Ben also has Cerebral Palsy. Just lifting his legs due to stiffness is difficult for him and he has limited control of his arms. Ben just doesn't run, but he is a competitor on his high school cross country team. He doesn't believe in the word "can't" and if someone tells Ben he can't do something he says that "he can". It takes Ben 40 plus minutes to run a 5k race where he often falls multiple times and needs help getting up. Crossing the finish the finish line with injuries and bleeding is common for Ben. Even through this, Ben runs.

Talk about inspirational!!!! I got all teary eyed and choked up watching Ben run and to see how excited he was about being a part of his high school cross country team. To see how supportive his parents, coach, teammates, and competitors were was something that words can't even describe. What an amazing, amazing young man he is! Words can't even begin to describe how inspired he made me feel. 

After watching Ben's story, I not only feel more inspired, but I feel even more thankful. There are days when I might want to "punch running in the face" (thanks Megan for that hilarious post!), but in general running is who I am. Running allows me to be the adrenaline junkie and push myself to reach my goals. Running makes me happy. 

Ben proves that you can do anything if you put your mind to it and if YOU WANT TO DO IT. It frustrates me when people say they "can't run". I am sorry, over half of the population can run, it is just that they don't want to run. That is fine if you don't want to run, just don't say you can't. If Ben can run, you can run. 

Questions for you:

What inspires you?

Does running make you happy?

--Tasha