I Run, For Life!

It’s probably one of the hardest things for me to talk about - what I’m all about! It was easier a few years ago when I was in college and if someone asked me what I did I could just say, “I major in so and so” (I graduated in History and in Russian Studies, if you’re curious - for more details, please read my biography) and people would nod and leave satisfied.Today, it’s not that simple. I’m not in traditional employment and I have just started my entrepreneurial journey, so my reply is not straightforward. I’m in a transition period when I’m not confident enough to say “I am a …”, but that’s the goal. I’m into many different things at the moment, so identifying myself with one particular word is quite difficult.

Instead of labelling myself as ’so and so’, I will tell you what I do and what my priorities are for the upcoming months:

I run!

I’ve signed up to run a marathon in June 2009, so I must be a runner, right? Well, let me tell you a secret: I’ve never run a marathon, I’ve never run a halfmarathon, a 10 mile run or even a 5 mile one… The longest I’ve ever run is probably 3 miles and it was never in a competition.

Yes, you read it right: 3! No joke. The marathon is 26 miles long, so what am I doing here bragging about running one? I have to be able to run 23 miles more… And I say, what’s the problem? I have 60 days to get ready and I’m going to make the most of it.

I’m not trying to be cocky (or needlessly foolish) here. I understand the challenge and it’s even more exciting because it sounds so absurd. I’m not assuming that I will run the race or that I will finish it under 3 hours or even 4, but I will finish it, and I will do it running.

I’ve set this goal to prove to myself that I simply CAN do it! And when I do DO it, I have more runs in mind - this is just a beginning!

I write

I’ve always loved writing, from academic essays to poetry and songs. When I was figuring out what I enjoyed doing the most and what I could actually see myself doing every day for hours, writing was the quickest answer.

It used to be only a hobby. I didn’t believe it could ever be ‘a real job’ for me. Blame it on the lack of confidence, shyness or my modesty, or on trying to fulfill someone else’s expectations about how my life should look, or both. But from now on, I’m confident enough to say that I want to be a writer!

Right now writing is, together with running, the most important thing I’m going to focus on. So if one day someone asks me at a party, “What do you do?” I can say nonchalantly, “I’m a writer!” without a doubt in my mind.

Rock the world!

Being a writer and a runner are first steps in my journey to free myself from ‘a real job’, working on making conscious choices in my life and on being extraordinary, and helping others to acknowledge that they are extraordinary too. I’m involved in other things as well and you will definitely read about it here, but running and writing are priorities for me for the upcoming months, so I’m highlighting them right now.

It might sound cliche, but everything is possible! We are here to do remarkable things and to experience great happiness and excitement about our life. So if you dread getting up in the morning and going to work, perhaps it’s time to make some changes? I know I used to, so one day I quit my job (more on that in another post).

So here is the beginning of my journey from a sitter to a runner. I’ve set a goal to be able to run 26 miles in 10 weeks even though I’m not able to run more than 3 miles right now. But I have 60 days (from today) to add the 23 miles and I will do it!

I’m really excited to start my training. If you could see me right now, you’d see a big grin on my face as I’m typing this. Whoa, it feels goood.

Life is yours!

What ‘crazy’ dreams do you have on your mind but you’re hesitating to start pursuing?

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I’d love to hear from you!

– Ola