Welcome to Wednesday Word, a weekly linkup for everyone, not just health and fitness bloggers. Each Wednesday you will have a single word prompt to write about. Let your imagination run free and share with your readers your interpretation of that word, or simply use it as inspiration for your post. Today’s word is gracious….. I’d love to have you link up, and if you do, please remember to be gracious and follow my six simple rules.
Gracious – very polite in a way that shows respect
~ Merriam-Webster
I’ve always said that I want to run forever.
That’s my goal – plain and simple!
But what if that isn’t meant to be?
What if I’m meant to stop running, to slow down?
Sooner than I’d planned…
What then?
I’ve been running for 44 years.
It’s who I am, it’s what I do,
and it’s one of the first things people ask about
when they haven’t seen me for a while.
So what if I can’t run forever?
What will I do as soon as I wake up in the morning?
What will I write about?
How will I act?
I’d like to think I’d be gracious…
I’d like to think that when people ask if I’m still running,
I could answer politely that I had to stop,
and engage in a positive conversation about why.
I’d like to think that I would attend races to cheer on my running friends,
and listen intently as they tell me about their latest accomplishments.
I’d like to think that I would be generous
of my new-found time and volunteer at races.
I’d like to think that I’d mentor young runners.
So if I can’t run forever, let me be gracious…
I hope you didn’t find this depressing or think it’s a clue to some foreboding feeling I have. It’s really just me pondering what might happen if I don’t meet my number one goal – to run forever (or at least as long as I choose to run). Of course, there are a number of other options available if I need to stop running sooner than planned; I can always take up sky diving…
Who exemplifies graciousness most to you?
Grab My Button!
Next Wednesday’s Word: ♣ Shenanigans ♣
Not only did we choose the same quote, we used the same font!
My hope really is to run forever, too, but being an adult onset runner, there’s been far less wear & tear on my body.
Still, one thing I know is true: running isn’t who we are, it’s what we do. It may be a big part of our lives & now I can’t imagine my life without it, but it’s still just one thing we do.
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Gracious, better known as the Golden Rule
That’s such a good point about running not being who we are, but what we do. I’ve been running my entire life, I’ve been coaching runners for twenty years, I talk about running daily with my strength/weight loss clients who are either beginner runners or looking to start running, I write a running blog, and I’m married to a runner (even though he’s still sidelined from knee surgery), so I really do sometimes feel that running is who I am. I need to remember that I’m far more than that. 😉
I’d like to run forever too, but I know that someday the day will come that I have to stop. There are many people that exemplify graciousness in my life, it’s hard to choose one.
Sonia recently posted…On Being Gracious
In reality, I suppose most of will have to stop running eventually. Still, I love seeing videos of 94-year-olds setting new running records!
Not depressing at all!!
I think we all hope to do what we love forever.
I feel that way about runNing and football. Since my knee is making both a difficult now, this post really hits home for me.
Thanks for it!
You’re very welcome! And why do injuries have to pop up and make what we love to do so difficult?
I wrote my post about somebody gracious, and I love your thoughts about wanting to run forever. I was running with a little yoga thrown in, and my plan is to someday shift the balance towards less running, and more yoga. Whenever I’m ready for that!
You are not only your running. I know it is a huge part of you, but I am confident that when the time is right, you will know it and walk (not run!) from it with your head high and a gracious smile.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, and I’m sure we will all find a new passion as our old running shoes start collecting dust for whatever reason.
I”d like to run forever as well! If I can’t, I don’t know how gracious I’ll be. I’m not being very gracious about aging.. :p
But skydiving is out!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Let’s All Be Gracious
Yeah, I just threw that skydiving option in there for fun. It would be a very expensive sport, not to mention the pounding upon landing wouldn’t feel so good on our already beaten up joints. I doubt I’d be a very graceful at landing…
I think about this sometimes too and then I see someone in their 70’s or 80″s at a race and it makes me smile. Love all the quotes people have used for this one today
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…How Running Is Like The Best Boyfriend Ever
I love seeing older people at races! In fact, during our final extremely muddy leg of Ragnar Trail WV last summer, this older lady who had to be at least in her late 60’s/early 70’s can zipping past us as we were slipping all over the place. She gave us words of encouragement as she remained steady on her feet going at a pace much faster than my friends and I dared go!
I am in my 60s but didn’t start running until age 55. I hope I can run forever and if I can’t, still be gracious. I was injured and out of running for most of 2012. Was I gracious? I am not sure.
Darlene recently posted…Wednesday Word: Gracious
I think those first few days after an injury are the hardest time to be gracious. That’s probably when I just need to keep to myself and off of social media. 🙂
What an interesting topic to think about. I have been thinking alot about this after rehabbing a nagging injury. For me, running is my stress release and when I am injured, I struggle with wanting to ride the bike or swim. I get depressed. I love how Judy said that running is just one thing we do…so true!
Lauren recently posted…Running with Grace
Amen.:)
ski diving! LOL! Yes, I would miss running too but volunteering would be the way to go!
The skydiving comment came after a conversation I had over cocktails with two of my runner friends. 😉
I love all these words! I, too, hope to run forever and that means running smart right now. Also, I think a good runner runs well, but a great runner supports other runners as well 😉
Thanks, Kim! Let me know if you ever have a great word you want to contribute and I’ll consider adding it.
Love your little quote there!
I worry about this too. How many years do I have left? I hope I get to a point where I CHOOSE to stop running. I will WANT to stop as opposed to being forced to. I’m not sure I can be gracious if I’m forced out to due a permanent injury.
HoHo Runs recently posted…The Best Thing (Gracious)
I agree – choosing to stop running wouldn’t be so bad because it will be our decision “when” we’re ready.
If I wasn’t able to run anymore, I also hope that I could be gracious for the time I had with running and would continue to give back to the sport. But I also hope I don’t have to find out how gracious I could be in that situation anytime soon 🙂
Meagan recently posted…Five Things Friday
Here’s hoping you can run for as many years as I have! I’m at 44 years of running now, and still going; although, there were a few low mileage years here and there.