Get out there. Do it. Do it for yourself. Do it for others who might notice. You might just inspire them. Inspiration is infectious. And it’s easy.
There’s no need to climb the highest peak. Nor must you run the furthest. You don’t need to win the big race. Heck, you don’t even need to race at all.
Without a doubt, folks can and do look to the world’s best for inspiration. But for everyone in your town who’s inspired by X or Y famous runner, I’d guess there are 10 who are inspired by those around them: the 74 year old still getting out for a few miles every morning after half a century of running, the mom of three who finds an hour every other day to hit the trails, or the youngster with two jobs who runs every chance she gets. These folks inspire!
What’s it about these folks that inspires? Many things. Familiarity. Relatability. Contact.
In late November, I was back in New Jersey visiting my family. While there, I ran with my sister Gretchen a few times. After one run I recall her proudly relating that one of her girlfriends told my sis that she was a running inspiration. Was it because my sister won a big race? Nope. I don’t think she ran a single race last year. Was it because she ran a crazy amount? Nope. She ran 500 miles last year. So what was it that inspired her friend?
As best I can tell, it’s that she’s a friend, who’s also a mother of two kids, who’s getting out there and getting it done. She’s doing it while running a small business with her husband. She’s running in the same local conditions. None of these things are extraordinary, but they are familiar and they are relatable to another local mom.
My sister Gretchen running with her youngest daughter and their dog.
Now, for my sister, the trails are her happy place. After some of her runs, she’ll post photos from it on Strava or Instagram. Her enjoyment from her run is immediately clear, but sometimes she’ll even tag a photo with #MyHappyPlace or the like. While social media can turn into something negative, I feel that we can authentically share our own joy in a way that positively inspires others.
As effective as sharing a photo or posting your workout can be at inspiring, so, too, can a quick chat. I know a minute or two on Facetime talking with my sister about her running can help get me out the door when I’m a bit anxious about or less than motivated for a run.
Of course, in terms of inspiring, it’s hard to beat meeting up with someone for an actual run. After a bit of a down period with running, I know I was inspired to get moving again when I was running with my sister. The same goes when I head out for an off-trail adventure with my 60-ish-year-old neighbor who is a life-long adventurer but who might not call himself a runner. The big smiles on their faces as they radiate the joy they’re feeling boosts my spirit.
One of the great beauties of inspiring others is that it can boomerang back on you just like when you encourage fellow competitors at a race. Not only did it feel great when my sis recently said I inspired her, a few days later she said she was going to do a “Tuesday tenner” and that I should, too. Game on! And that Tuesday 10 miler has now happened three weeks in a row for me and it’s kick started my winter running.
So, whether you’re training relentlessly to crush some huge adventure or are more in maintenance mode with a couple runs per week, you’re likely inspiring someone… and that might just come back to inspire you. Keep it up!
Call for Comments
- Do you actively try to inspire with your own running or outdoor activity?
- Have you ever found yourself an accidental source of inspiration?
- Who out there inspires you and how do they do it?
- Heck, what is inspiration and how does it work?!
Mutually inspired siblings.
