Friends with Benefits

So often times people ask me what keeps me motivated.  Or, how do you do it?  I think I've answered these questions before, but today I came up with a new reason why I do the things I do and keep doing them.

Meet my friends.

Yeah, do you notice anything about them?  Pretty much all of them are runners.  Even my friends not pictured here are fitness people, working out in some way, shape, or form.  I'd say 90% of the people I'm close to workout.

Now you might say that this is because I'm so active, but I really don't think so.  Most of my friends, I've met through my kids and then found out somewhere along the way that they also worked out or ran.  It's not like I met them through a running group or at the gym.  Particularly in Texas, it seems as though everyone I met was super fit.  Everyone makes health and fitness a priority.

When you hang out with people that run almost every day,

that log as many miles as you do to train for a marathon,

that do more than just run,

and average 5 to 6 workouts a week,

you just begin to think that's normal.  You start to minimize all your accomplishments because everyone around you does it too (and most of them do it better).  You don't give yourself credit for waking up at 5:30 every weekend to log double digits miles before heading to your kids' soccer and hockey games.  You don't think anything of it, because the person standing right beside you is doing it too.

You tend to forget about all the people out there that are still in bed, with no intentions of working out that day (or ever).  You tend to forget that 10 miles is a LONG way and not "just" 10 miles.  You tend to forget that not everyone can say they've run a marathon, or a half marathon, a 5k, or even a mile.

The point of this post is two-fold.  To all you people out there who are saying things like "just 10 miles" and "I only worked out 3 days this week" (yes I'm talking to myself), get a grip.  Stop minimizing and realize you're doing a LOT more than most people out there.  That's not to say I'm better, but just that I should accept that what I do is an accomplishment.

And to those of you that aren't do anything, then I will finally answer the question I talked about at the beginning of this post.  What keeps me motivated?  My friends definitely keep me motivated.  It is so critical to your success to surround yourself with like minded people-- people who lift you up and encourage you with their own actions.  It might have taken me longer than it should have to realize, but I know now that my friends are my biggest inspirations and motivators.

So get out there and find yourself a running buddy, someone who also likes to do Zumba, or someone who just wants to stroll around the park.  Getting moving with someone could just change your way of thinking.  Who knows maybe one day you'll find yourself wondering why you aren't doing two-a-days!  (Thanks a lot Tracey).

Seriously though, thank you to all the wonderful ladies in my life for inspiring and motivating me.  Even if you do have my mind a little twisted, I like thinking that WE are the normal ones.