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 dreamer….. I’d love to have you link up, and if you do, please remember to follow my six simple rules.
Dreamer – one that dreams;
one who lives in a world of fancy and imagination
~ Merriam-Webster
I grew up a dreamer…
Dreaming was how I made the time go by faster. Dreaming was my way of coping with boredom. Dreaming was my friend.
I grew up out in the middle of the country living a pretty perfect life. I didn’t, however; have any friends who lived nearby. There were no play dates, no after school activities with friends, just farm chores and homework – the only exception was during track season from March to May…
Summer days for me weren’t spent at the neighborhood pool with friends, but instead out in one of the fields helping my dad and great-uncle put up hay. As much as I loved my dad and Uncle Ted, I quickly bored of politics and current events, and let my mind wonder to more exciting things.
I dreamed of running for gold in the Olympics. I dreamed of playing tennis at Wimbledon. I dreamed of being anywhere other than where I was with the hot sun beating down on me.
Those highly developed skills as a dreamer served me well years later when I took up marathoning. I trained for my first marathon and ultramarathon alone, long before meeting the Cruisers. All of my long runs were solo with only my ability to drift off into another world keeping me company.
Yet each of those runs seemed to go by quickly. I don’t recall counting off the miles completed or the miles ahead. I don’t remember feeling bored. The miles just clicked away, and before I knew it, I’d run twenty miles.
The miles flew by as this dreamer envisioned herself running into Olympic Stadium to the roar of a screaming crowd, crossing the finish line winning the marathon by mere seconds…
Are you a dreamer? If so, what are your dreams?
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Next Wednesday’s Word: Fearless
Oh, I may be a dreamer, but I’m always counting off miles!
My parents did expose us to all sorts of activities — although not like nowadays! — swimming, bowling, dancing, Girl Scouts, music. Golf & tennis for my siblings — not for me, though, because I’m just not athletically gifted.
So competitiveness was instilled at an early age!
Right now I’m dreaming about that next half, cause it’s coming up soon!
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…It’s not the size of the dream . . .
And I’m dreaming about Ragnar Richmond because it’s coming up this weekend! Have fun at your next half!
That is amazing that you trained for a marathon and ultra solo…a testimony to the power of will! I am def a dreamer—hoping to be at Boston one day:)
Lauren recently posted…Co-Del Marathon Recap: This Girl has Dreams
I hope you reach your dream! Running Boston is truly an amazing experience!
I am definitely a dreamer! I just wrote a post on this same topic but had no idea this was your word this week or I would have linked up!
I admire how you ran just to run! I feel like I have to be motivated by something.
You can still linkup!
I am most definitely a dreamer, a day dreamer! It helps with boredom and slow moments. I let me imagination run wild while I am out there running by myself and you are right- the miles clip by!
Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…Cape Cod Dreamer
I used to daydream the whole time while cutting the grass, too. I’d get so distracted, I’m lucky I didn’t cut my foot off.
I did most of my marathon training alone. For some reason, it was easier than being with someone, probably for the same reasons as you. I don’t know if I could do it for an ultra. But i guess you never know til you try!
I trained for those first two races alone simply because I didn’t have any friends running long distances who lived near by at the time. It was a matter of necessity! 🙂
Love your take on this! I don’t think I let myself just dream enough. Something to think about!
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…How To Make A Killer Vegetarian Frittata In Under 30 minutes
Thanks! Do it – let your mind wonder on your next run…
That’s awesome that you trained for a marathon by yourself! That takes dreaming and a lot of hard work. 🙂
Sonia recently posted…Diva Half Marathon Race Recap
Thanks, Sonia!
Love this post!!
thanks for sharing your dreams with us!!
I was never a dreamer…truth be told, my childhood was a bit chaotic so during that time, I dreamed for peace and sanity and to be anywhere but where I was 🙁
Thanks, Tamieka. My dreams seem a bit shallow compared to yours as a child…
First time commenting, but I had to because I had a very similar childhood growing up on a farm in the middle of nowhere! I was a dreamer then and it helped pass the time without friends around! I’m training for my third marathon solo; I’ve never trained with anyone and even go without music. People think I’m crazy, but I can easily pass the time just day dreaming, thinking of that coveted BQ or whatever crosses my mind. Glad I’m not the only one!
That’s so cool that you became a dreamer for similar reasons that I did. Best wishes chasing your dreams and I hope your BQ dream comes true!
We’d love to have you link up with Wednesday Word sometime!
I loved this post 🙂 I did a lot of dreaming as a kid, too (although for me, it was swimming at the Olympics). I feel like we often lose our childhood selves as we grow into adulthood. Instead of dreamers, we become planners. We plan for the future, but our plans are often focused on ‘realistic’ things.
Meagan recently posted…Strange Dreams
Thanks, Meagan! I have to admit that when I run alone, I still dream like a kid more than I focus on planning. I sometimes scold myself for not using my time more wisely coming up with ideas for future blog posts, etc.