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 fearless….. I’d love to have you link up, and if you do, please remember to follow my six simple rules.
Fearless – not afraid; very brave
~ Merriam-Webster
I once was a scaredy cat…
I’d jump if I saw my shadow, and hated having to go into the barn alone in the dark at 6 AM to do my morning chores. Convinced that there was a bear, bobcat, or rabid fox lurking and ready to pounce, my heart raced with every step I took.
Fast forward to today, and my favorite time to run is in the dark, bringing up the sun. Usually I’m protected by my own pack of runners, but not always. When running alone, I’m aware of my surroundings, but not afraid. I see a little fox at the same place along the trail on early morning runs. He’s scavenging for food and I’m looking for endorphins. I admire his beauty; he gives me a cautious eye.
This past weekend, Meagan and I were fearless as we embarked on two nighttime runs in the middle of Pocahontas State Park during our Ragnar Trail Richmond adventure. Having a running buddy was comforting, but I know we could have survived alone. Spotting the occasional headlamp of a fellow runner would have been enough to assure either one of us that we would be fine. Without each others company we would have been lonely, but not afraid.
Yes, Meagan and I were fearless as we stepped out of our comfort zones once again. We came out stronger and more confident, knowing that we can do anything if we just set our minds to it.
Are you fearless?
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Next Wednesday’s Word: Dilemma
I write the words in my calendar, but obviously I wrote this one down wrong! Sorry!
I tend more toward fearful than fearless, but if I listened to my mom & husband, I wouldn’t have tried many of the things I have — and I’d regret that.
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Who thinks running is free of dilemmas?
No worries, Judy! Next week you can write about being fearless when we write about our dilemmas. It’s all good!
I’m not sure I would have been fearless on my own on a dark run through the woods, but I would have been fine with a friend! I try to balance my fearlessness with reason. I am now afraid to run alone along the East River before sunrise because I’ve seen crime reports, so I will deal with the traffic lights on 5th Ave and run up to Central Park.
Coco recently posted…Afraid Of What Lies Ahead For Tiger Lilly
I’m not so sure I would have been fearless all alone out in the forest, but knowing that there were other Ragnar runners in the area would have been enough. I felt the woods were safe – I wouldn’t run in an unsafe, crime-ridden area alone, though.
We did it 🙂 But I’m not so sure I could have done it in my own!
Meagan recently posted…Facing Your Fears
You would have been fine on your own, but it was certainly more fun and comforting know you were there to protect me! 🙂
There are a lot of things I’m not afraid of anymore, thanks to running 😉 The 26.2 distance, for example, once seemed insurmountable. And, I used to loathe (and dread) running hills…..that’s all been rectified, too.
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Fearless…A Long Time Coming
Oh, I like that angle on fearless – no longer afraid of the marathon…
I have to say that fear holds me back from a Ragnar: fear of running alone in the middle of the night, fear of running on no sleep, and fear of being super crabby because of no sleep!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Lessons Learned: Big Sur Marathon
You could do it! During the moment, none of those things bothers me. My biggest thing has been catching up on my rest since I’ve gotten home.
Ha, I am still a “scardey cat”, but less so when I am with another person!
Safety in numbers! 😀
I would not say that I am fearless but I have been a little more adventurous the past few years.
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…American Odyssey Relay-Gettysburg to DC
I guess it’s all relative. I was fine running through the woods in the dark, but if I’d been running through a rough part of town I might have been more fearful, even with a running buddy. And you’re right, I’m not so sure I would have been so confident running in the dark twenty years ago.
Not 100% fearless (because a little fear is probably wise), but I am letting go of fear. I don’t like running in the dark in certain areas, just because we have some freaky animals around here, but I grab my pepper spray, make sure someone knows where I am and get it done. Overcoming fears is so empowering.
Jenn recently posted…wednesday word: fearless
Oh, I like that! “Overcoming fears is so empowering.” And you’re right, we have to be smart about our choices.
OMG!!! when I had to run Ragnar in the middle of the night …I was fearful!!!! I couldn’t get to the fearless state at all with the night time running. I watch too much ID /Crime TV!!
I am usually a bit fearful but once I get comfortable, I become fearless.
HaHa! Perhaps that why I was fearless… I don’t watch any crime TV! 😀
I would not say I’m always fearless in all things. But, when I make my mind up to do something — I usually tackle it without fear. Running at night in the woods would definitely be spooky. I think the more things we try (and accomplish) outside our comfort zones definitely makes us less fearless as a whole. Thanks for the link!
HoHo Runs recently posted…Fearless Training
Good point – “… the more things we try (and accomplish) outside our comfort zones definitely makes us less fearless as a whole.” Knowing other Ragnar runners were in the area would have given me the confidence to run alone – without them, no way!
That was an adventurous race and looked like you both had fun! Bravo!! I would say you’re definitely fearless.
Sonia recently posted…Use the Fear
It was so much fun!
Wow!! that’s amazing!! No a single drop of fear for you! A Ragnar in the dark sounds a little scary to me! way to go!! very impressive!
Ana recently posted…Fear of Feedback
The fact that there aren’t a lot of particularly scary animals lurking in that area certainly helped keep the fear level down for me!